Friday, December 14, 2012

Early on...


Early on
you noticed how moods
change
when we walk together
from school,
picking acorns and walnuts
bird feathers and
pebbles
making our way home
on a sunny afternoon
you telling me that kindergarten
is a lot of busy work.


I smiled then
knowing full well
that teachers work hard to
make things flow
and keep boys
busy
in their seats
like coaches
try to keep little boys
focused on
chasing the ball
and not picking
daisies on the soccer field.


Later,
exhausted
with sweat and pain
you preferred pizza for a snack
instead of oranges and granola
after
soccer, basketball, baseball
tennis, golf, snowboarding, biking
with teams
or with boys in the neighborhood
in the pool
off the steep hills around us
at Shoup Park
chasing balls
each other
dreams
climbing trees
and mountains.

Daily
you
dressed up
responsibilities
with joyful noises
studying, working,
caring
exploring how
to become
less frustrated
by break-downs
heavy demands
how to know
all there is
to know
holding petals
of a daisy
or watching the flight
of a hummingbird.


And you're still
becoming
exploring
the unknown
without me
knowing your whereabouts.

At Christmas, though, I expect you sharing with me.





5 comments:

  1. Your poem is even more poignant today .. so many mothers and fathers missing their little ones.

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  2. Such a lovely poem of remembrance and so poignant on this day. Tears are in our hearts for you and those in Connecticut who, I hope, will one day be able to write beautiful words about their darlings.

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  3. Beautiful. My thoughts turned to losing children this morning after the terrible events in Connecticut yesterday.... We lost on eldest son at the age of 26 to the effect of bi-polar disease (depression)thirteen years ago this week. Not a day go by. I've been digitalizing all our old ektachrome slides of him and his younger brother. It is a work of love now and some pain....

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  4. The eyes and heart and hopes and expectations and observations of a mother of her son. Rosaria, there is an ache in my heart as I read this and know these are a few of the things your heart carries year round and again in Decembers. (((((((((()))))))))))
    xxamy

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