Bittersweet

In a perfect world,
You’d wake up as the sun rises,
All bushy tailed and raring to go.
You’d be busy and buzzing and contagious.

You’d be worrying about what to cook,
And marveling at how you ever lived
Without the ‘net and Recipes.com.
You’d make your own decisions, nag, and live.

We’d go out and walk in our NB shoes
Every Saturday and Sunday morning.
We’d have brunch in that Korean bakeshop.
We’d watch a movie every other day.

We’d read and watch TV series online.
You’d get why I laugh watching 2 Broke Girls.
You’d smile when I squeal watching two boys’ love –
Or maybe you’d tell me to tone it down.

You’d obsess about face creams and wrinkles,
You’d fuss about your roots and hair color.
You’d dutifully drink lots of water
And not always insist on Pocari.

You’d nag that I’m old and must get married.
I’d say that I’m happy being single.
You’d still nag and pick guys to set me up.
I’d pimp your FB profile to jail baits.

You’d call your girlfriends and know their numbers.
You’d call your brothers just to – again – nag.
You’d worry about my other siblings.
You’d talk trash about dad yet love him still.

You’d know your own name and when you were born.
You’d write your name and draw up budget plans.
You’d think and act of your own volition.
You’d know my name and look at me with recognition.

In this world, you smile and pretend you know.
Deep inside you do, but when you do try
Thoughts and words always slip out of your grasp.
But you still smile, and laugh, and dance, and hug.

So I give you reasons to smile and laugh,
And I play the bubblegum dance music
That you recently took a liking to.
And I hug you and say you’re beautiful.

I hand feed you pesto and cheese pastry.
I put your face cream and lip balm on you. 
I help you go and sit on the toilet. 
I help you to dress up and comb your hair.

Once in a while you smile and say, ‘thank you’.
You reach for me suddenly and hug me.
A few times you wake to fix my covers.
I am blessed every day that you’re with me.

It’s not a perfect world but it’s happy.
It’s not ideal but it’s better than most.
Others say we’ve been dealt an unfair hand.
I say it’s just life with its own sweetness.

People try to tear me away from you.
They say I should just get on my own way.
They have good intentions but they don’t know
You’re still there, somewhere inside, always there.

And I sing to you until you’re awake.
And I sing to you until you’re asleep.
I’m here; no one can love you like I do.
You have no reason to worry, to fear.

I’m here to stay in our imperfect world.