Collaboration with
Dimpled, sun dappled, sidewalk toe tapping daughters multiply
laugh lines. Hopping tromp-stomping in tutus and boots through the last
of snow melt puddles. Impossible to capture moments of runaway
rapture, grasping as childhood’s soap-bubbles pass... Panicked parents mind
the time; unwind memory (like strings around fingers)-- word of mouth
ribbons of hard-earned wisdom. Bind it as they might, the clock’s not stopping
Tiny nose flat against the window, shouting at an ice cream man who isn’t stopping.
I watch her face darken momentarily. She forgets, and giggles begin to multiply,
she’s remembered that I promised cookie dough for lunch and stuffs her mouth.
Saturdays we don’t follow rules. Dance about the house, make each moment last.
Too quickly the days of youth fade behind and little girls begin to lose their mind
days of pink, princesses, and unicorns lost forever. It all just runs away.
Wee hour windblown shadows twist curtains. Daughters shriek in runaway
terror, arms rescue pleading from bunk bed driftwood. Sailing in, stopping
tentacles and tearing teeth with the parental power of unbelief, “It’s all in your mind.”
Noggin nestled between shoulder and cheek, a mist of breath and tears. Multiply
the hours battling sleep. This omnipotence won’t last.
Gathering snuggles while we may, mere mortals wishing to stop Chronos’ mouth.
Curled on couch fever burning her body bringing aches tears parched mouth
hovering over her with cool wet rags droppers sticky with medicine the runaway
fears as 104 approaches I take secret deep breaths consider praying give her the last
of the cough drops a cold the flu something common and fleeting, these thoughts not stopping
helpless feelings and useless wrung hands sick little girl causes worry lines to multiply
across my stoic fatherly face only a handful of slept hours behind me, but I will never mind
Tearing down aisles, gut knotted, crawling in clothes racks, forgot to mind
the baby, now the hole in your chest is growing, her name ripping out of your mouth
Her face on milk cartons, Lifetime movies, strangers with your baby multiply
around every corner. These visions distend the minutes she’s been gone. Run away
from helpful shoppers, bargaining and begging at the ceiling, the fear’s not stopping
until a burst of innocent giggles as she leaps mischievously into your arms at last.
Nestled in the rows of the U-pick field, a baby surrounded by strawberry leaves, last
of the season. Crouching and crawling on dimpled knees, diaper skyward, one thing in mind.
Deftly picking her fill, face smeared with juice and joy, jamming berries in grinning cheeks. Stopping
only to scootch to a new patch, pink drooling and goopy, giddy in the sunlight. Offering smeary-mouth
kisses between bites, an irresistible mess. Hayride approaches. Not ready to leave, she runs away.
Watching her toddling at warp through the rows, too in love to remember the camera. Memories multiply.
Dimpled, sun dappled, sidewalk toe tapping daughters multiply
laugh lines. Hopping tromp-stomping in tutus and boots through the last
of snow melt puddles. Impossible to capture moments of runaway
rapture, grasping as childhood’s soap-bubbles pass... Panicked parents mind
the time; unwind memory (like strings around fingers)-- word of mouth
ribbons of hard-earned wisdom. Bind it as they might, the clock’s not stopping
Tiny nose flat against the window, shouting at an ice cream man who isn’t stopping.
I watch her face darken momentarily. She forgets, and giggles begin to multiply,
she’s remembered that I promised cookie dough for lunch and stuffs her mouth.
Saturdays we don’t follow rules. Dance about the house, make each moment last.
Too quickly the days of youth fade behind and little girls begin to lose their mind
days of pink, princesses, and unicorns lost forever. It all just runs away.
Wee hour windblown shadows twist curtains. Daughters shriek in runaway
terror, arms rescue pleading from bunk bed driftwood. Sailing in, stopping
tentacles and tearing teeth with the parental power of unbelief, “It’s all in your mind.”
Noggin nestled between shoulder and cheek, a mist of breath and tears. Multiply
the hours battling sleep. This omnipotence won’t last.
Gathering snuggles while we may, mere mortals wishing to stop Chronos’ mouth.
Curled on couch fever burning her body bringing aches tears parched mouth
hovering over her with cool wet rags droppers sticky with medicine the runaway
fears as 104 approaches I take secret deep breaths consider praying give her the last
of the cough drops a cold the flu something common and fleeting, these thoughts not stopping
helpless feelings and useless wrung hands sick little girl causes worry lines to multiply
across my stoic fatherly face only a handful of slept hours behind me, but I will never mind
Tearing down aisles, gut knotted, crawling in clothes racks, forgot to mind
the baby, now the hole in your chest is growing, her name ripping out of your mouth
Her face on milk cartons, Lifetime movies, strangers with your baby multiply
around every corner. These visions distend the minutes she’s been gone. Run away
from helpful shoppers, bargaining and begging at the ceiling, the fear’s not stopping
until a burst of innocent giggles as she leaps mischievously into your arms at last.
Nestled in the rows of the U-pick field, a baby surrounded by strawberry leaves, last
of the season. Crouching and crawling on dimpled knees, diaper skyward, one thing in mind.
Deftly picking her fill, face smeared with juice and joy, jamming berries in grinning cheeks. Stopping
only to scootch to a new patch, pink drooling and goopy, giddy in the sunlight. Offering smeary-mouth
kisses between bites, an irresistible mess. Hayride approaches. Not ready to leave, she runs away.
Watching her toddling at warp through the rows, too in love to remember the camera. Memories multiply.
Remembering the last of smeary-mouth kisses
panicked parents mind the time.She runs away.
The clock’s not stopping. Not-so-little girl causes worry lines to multiply
panicked parents mind the time.She runs away.
The clock’s not stopping. Not-so-little girl causes worry lines to multiply
Love it!
ReplyDelete