Poppy

For my niece, Poppy, born 15 February 2018

Welcome to the world, little Poppy,
you have reminded me that life is beautiful.
But when I cradled your fragile body,
I questioned whether life is worthless.

The world is full of sadness and war,
one the one hand, poverty, and death on the other.
But, just as spring follows winter,
you were born after a loss, Poppy.

The name reminds me of a very famous war,
in which millions of innocent people fell.
In commemoration there is a beautiful symbol,
which grew from the fight, the poppy.

With green leaves and red petals,
the poppy reminds us of a very old wish.
That when they give us war, we respond with peace,
we offer tranquility in place of chaos.

The world is shit, we have to confess,
but we possess the key to improve it.
We live how we want and accept the same for everyone,
and also understand, Poppy, that we are only what we are.

You will always be perfect, I can see it in your eyes,
you will give years of happiness to your proud parents.
Whatever happens, remember, forever,
that the life is yours, little Poppy.

This poem was originally written in Catalan and has been translated into English. As such, it does not flow as well, nor rhyme, as the original.