Make a Wish

a little child
with shaven head
and sunken eyes
seizes me up
holding on to
a drinking cup
and a smile
wisdom and knowing
beyond its years
having met head on
all our deepest fears
and are those tears
no the eyes twinkle
the spirit, undamaged
though the body is ravaged
by disease
and pills and pleas
and potions and principles
and people’s pain
what can you wish
for this young one
toys, treasure
or your time
or a prayer
that some day
you just may
have a will
a spirit
as radiant
as theirs.