For the child I dreamed of having

I dreamed of you and woke to shed some tears.
I dreamed of all the unaccomplished years--
your infancy, your childhood, your teens
the coming-true of all your favorite dreams--
and when I woke, these things all disappeared.

I would have held you close and soothed your fears
and eased your sorrows with a mother's cheer
but waking's hard, for now it only seems
I dreamed of you.

If God in time sends other children here,
we'll love them well, and keep them safe and near.
But I won't kneel to drink from Lethe's stream,
you'll be remembered, child of my dream.
God keeps you now, but don't forget, my dear
I dreamed of you.