THE TREEHOUSE

I finally agreed when he turned eight
To build his ' Castle in the sky'
With wooden steps nailed up the side
Just so he could climb that high.

Four walls, about six feet tall
Although not exactly square
And little windows on every side
So he could look out everywhere.

For the roof he said, "Please daddy,
Let's not cover it all the way
Then I can see the stars at night
And feel the sun each day".

Six short days after we began
That treehouse was complete
I thought it was a work of art
He just kept saying, 'neat'!

He wanted to have an open-house
Invite his friends to come and see
We planned it for the coming weekend
But somethings just aren't meant to be.

Early Friday morning the telephone rang
A large truck hit the bus they said
Many children injured, some were fatal
And mine was among the dead.

Now, when I'm feeling terribly alone
I will climb up that old tree
And sit for hours at a time
Pretending he's still there with  me.

The other day, I fell asleep there
And had the strangest, wonderful dream
About a castle in the sky
And my boy, calling down to me.

Saying Daddy, just climb the steps
That I've nailed down for you
I've got the highest treehouse of all
And I'm having open-house, for you.....