The Gift

When you gave me a set of yellow HB pencils

and my first notepad with lines in it,

When you gave me book after book after book –

Enid Blyton, Tove Jansson, Agatha Christie, Stephen King,

When you gave me a typewriter with red and black ribbon,

and reams and reams of blank paper,

When you gave me a fountain pen engraved with my name,

When you gave me a desk and a lamp –

You weren’t just giving me carbon graphite,

and inky fingers and blinking, overtired eyes.

You didn’t just give me stories and the library and school.

You were giving me permission and space.

You were giving me your silent encouragement.

       You were giving me a chance

              You were giving me a voice

                     Thank you for the gift.

Photo by Luca Onniboni on Unsplash