See those fingers and the toes
She's got my eyes 'n' got your nose
tiny fingers, 'round my finger
she holds on to me perfectly

How the years grow shorter still
now she won't and then she will
see her rise now, my surprise now
thought I knew her well

In the eyes of this young girl I see there dreaming
The face of one young woman yet to wake
Holding in her hands, quietly stealing
All that I can give, that she will take

Did I miss you?
Will I kiss you?
Thought I knew you well


Take my hand within your hand
we don't explain but understand
peaceful feeling, through our fingers
we hold together perfectly

Here's my promised life with you
What we don't and what we do
As we go on, still we grow on
Thought I knew us well

In the chalice of my heart I see there brimming
The promises of lifetime yet to break
Holding in my hand, I am revealing
All that I can give, that you will take

How I miss you
While I kiss you
Thought I knew you well


I pray the Lord my soul to keep
On mountain high or valley deep
Pastures greening, still I'm leaning
Lead beside me perfectly

I live to keep my life in hand
As I can't and as I can
In my grasping short of asking
Thought You knew me well

In the business of my life I stand there scheming
My will to move the world with just a shake
Withdrawing from Your hand my face is saving
All that You will give then You will take

Do You miss me?
Will You kiss me?
Thought I knew You well

Shawn I almost missed this one. I'm a bit tired so I'm having trouble grasping the rational behind the configuration of this - entirely my problem and nothing to do with the peom, I'm sure. But I wanted to comment befor I went to bed. I just love poems that try and reveal the innocence and natural beauty of children and their individual but similar traits. It's a bit like that black cat you see on TV adverts - they actually stole yours to make the ad (not)! So I recognise things you mention, but you have personalised your own experiences. Very nice. Very touching. Very realistic. Then the added (Shawn R) value. Very different.

You have a fan. There is a hymn like quality to some of your writing. It is very thought provoking, but I haven't really figured it out. It's about your daughter? Growing up and leaving home? But there is a sadness in the chorus lines

Thought I knew you well
Thought I knew us well
Thought I knew you well
Thought You knew me well
Thought I knew You well


Does this convey the disappointment of lost contact, an errant daughter perhaps? No no probably not. I'm just trying to get the picture, because it's such a good poem.

I'm very heartened with your comments.

The different fonts designate the singers voices;
[the mans voice]...[the womans voice] and [voices in unison]

This may alter the focus of the lyrics.
The couple are each singing of their ever-changing relationship to one another,
and the underlying sadness is the growing awareness of their own mortality.