I hope you carry

a pocket full of treasures,
pecan pie,
vanilla ice cream,
strawberry muffin,
sugar glazed donuts,
chocolate chip cookies,
and all the sweetest things.

I hope you carry

a bucket that never empties,
hopes,
wishes,
dreams,
fantasies,
sparkles,
and all the wildest things.

a ray of sunshine
that never dims,
and stays with you
no matter what comes your way.

the glow of the moon,
soft and gentle,
always there,
like a quiet reassurance

that you are never quite
without light.

I hope you carry

the bloom of flowers,

bright, colourful and playful
and even when they fade,
the memory of their beauty

gladdens your heart.

I hope you carry

all that is good,
all that is comforting
and all that lifts you up,
something to hold on to

when the bad shows up
and stays for a little while.

Mariam Shittu

Photo by Louai Benzaoui