poetry – The Promise I Kept

Thirty-five years ago, when I finally arrived back in Australia after adopting a baby girl from an orphanage in post Communist Romania, my youngest brother, Kent Rickerby, happened to be visiting Australia from New Zealand, and wrote this poem. For thirty-five years, this beautifully written, heartfelt poem was filed away, unread, until a few weeks ago, Kent found it and sent a copy and I was able to share it with Loredana on her thirty-five Birthday.

Title; For You I Gladly Sing.

From afar you came,

New life to gain,

Caught up with joy,

Caught up with love,

From hopeless to hopeful,

From poverty to paradise,

Loredana Iona,

Truly a gift from God,

With deep, (DARK) brown eyes,

And rose cheeked smile,

Playing with joy in the garden of life,

Bringing happiness to all you meet,

You bring a smile to my lips,

And you bring a dance to my eyes,

When I hold you, a babe in arms,

I truly marvel at God’s abundance in beauty,

I wonder what can be given that God has not already given,

But more love,

And more joy,

And I thank God to have met you.

For you I gladly sing.