See Grandma,
Go see Grandad,
Visit mad Uncle John, crazy Aunt Maud.
See Santa, see the nativity,
Get to the shops, see the lights,
See the tree growing, the children even more grown,
See the New Year land safely.
Time to eat, time to rest.
A time to drink, a time for every game.
Time for presents, time for surprises.
Time to forget the troubles,
Time to be whoever you can be.
I’d love to see a Christmas time.
I’m just 10 months old, you see.
Here I am in Liberia, on the ELWA paediatric ward,
It’s bustling and loud here, but behind my eyes I’m silent,
Last week was malaria, now I’m asleep,
Trying to wake up, trying to dream a way out of this coma.
I’d love to see this Christmas.
Mummy tried to feed me this morning,
Not turkey, just milk, but the nurse said I’m too sick,
I can’t move my tongue, I can’t swallow,
I managed a tear this morning,
A precious pearl that mummy tried to frame,
As it sparkled, then trickled away in a vapour of sorrow.
My Christmas gift is the oxygen in my nose,
The little tube in my hand running sugary water into my veins,
Anti-malarial re-inforcements unwrapped eagerly by a tired immune system,
Daddy tried to give me his blood for Christmas, but he’s sick too.
I can still feel your care Mummy,
Even though I can’t say thank you,
So don’t stop,
Hold my hand, stroke my hair, pray and hope,
Together we may win through, if you keep loving me.
So this Christmas I wish for more time.
My fight is my gift for mummy and daddy,
My fight to open my eyes, to hug them, to hold their hands,
Watching the sunrise over the beach,
Hope peeping open from behind the static palms.
I would love to see one more time.
