yeah i saw you were three feet tall

you used to be small; your hair mousy
the low ponytail of a colonial man
(and how's THAT for george washington)

you used to squeak in alarm instead of excitement
you used to scurry along, making step to back and down
you used to be a harmless sheep

you used to be the timid soul, instead of the one who coaxes them
you used to only be inspired, but now i look on and up and what do i see?
you used to be nothing special

(you have always been everything)

i would recognize that tiny spark no matter how enormous the shrouding flame
i would see, in the reflection of a swinging door, what has gone in and what has come out

i would know that the seed is still buried, and the beautiful leaves a-furling
i would know that five feet isn't the end, when you've got ten shouting out from within you

what once was a squeak is now a honk, perhaps
(do they call that spreading your wings?)

what once was a frown is now not just a smile, a grin, but a smirk
(don't you just know what you've got?)

what children deserve is no secret
what you are used to is no prize

but now you can take it
stand up on those toes
don't lose her; keep her safe
it's your own shoulders you teeter upon

yeah, i saw you
i've been watching you for years
and how wide my gaze is now
i want to see you everywhere