To My Niece

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Raizel (1953-) | Canadian | Published: May, 1985

These variations were written before my niece Michelle was born in May 1985.

Dear Little One:

Three gifts He will endow you with: a birthright of humanity.
Guard them well and a rich and beautiful being you'll grow to be.

He gives to you a body. A housing for what's inside.
Treat it well and show respect and it'll carry you through the darkest
winters till the blossoms of Spring bloom again.

He gives to you a mind to put inside your golden locks.
To find the rights for those wrongs you reason of.
To find the key that frees the prisoner from shackles he cannot see.
To think of how and why and ifs, till the dawn turns to dusk.

And, then He gives the most precious one. Saved till last as a jewel to crown a beauty.
A soul.

Use it as a pocket and make its only possession your spirit.
Believe in the goodness of your fellow man. Believe in giving a helping hand.
Believe too in hope for when despair seems greatest.
And my little one, no church walls will ever be able to keep you out.

For you will belong to the religion of humanity.

And one wish I pass your way: Layers of Love to wrap these gifs.
Love these gifts -- your mind, your body, and your soul and then learn to Love everyone as your own.

These words I pass onto you as you lie asleep deep inside your mother's womb.

Your loving Aunt,

To My Niece II

To my niece/nephew - yet to be born.

Dear Little One,

Please don't be alarmed at what you first view. The world's a splendid place, you'll see.
Yes, we come in different colours. It's called races. Not all like each other but if you look
beyond the skin, there beats a heart alike.

Yeah, it's a little noisy out here.
What's that you say, you hear a "boom"?
There's a war raging off some far shore but no one really knows who's winning.

Listen closely and the sound will grow: of a robin's song or the whistling wind.
Noise can be beautiful too.

Another letter drafted prior to the birth of my niece, 1984

Saturday/Sunday, holy day? In the soul of man lies his church.
Do good unto others and you will be part of a universal religion.
Carry your beliefs with you in a pocket in your soul.

And you'll never be in want of a church.

What? There's a difference you see between you and another?
Boys and girls two paths they grow, but remember, each as an individual must be nurtured.

I'll tell you in a capsule what gets you through it all over everyone else as if they too were your own.

Another letter drafted prior to the birth of my niece, 1984

Dear Little One:

Three things you'll be endowed with and accountable for.
Keep safe through a lifetime and a rich and beautiful being you'll grow.

Your mind to reason why there's stars in the Heavens and wonder of the pollution that invades.
To allow you to reason of the boundaries that divide on paper what eyes cannot see.
To fight the battles that fists should never meet.

Your body to carry you through many a winder's storm only to discover the
blossoms that bloom in Spring. To house the most precious gift ever given humans:

Your soul.

To be a pocket that holds your spiritual beliefs that wherever you may wander there's a church inside.
Respect the spirit and nourish it well and no other colour but humanity shall ever enter in.

Keep these precious gifts you receive and wrap them all with layers of love.
Love your mind, body and soul and then love others as if your own.

This early prayer I pass to you and know I'll always be

Your loving Aunt.