Category Archives: Poems

AnyWay

Any way he can
he gets his head on the floor.
Again, the littlest one has plopped
onto his bottom and thrown his head
forward, his face between his bare feet
on the hard ground.

He looks up, sideways, still scream-crying
to see where I am. I still stand
holding the open applesauce pouch
ready to help him, but he wants
to do it on his own – squeeze full to empty
in seconds, maybe in his mouth, maybe not.

After a good two minutes
I give in and give up
and offer him the open, squeezable container.
He won’t take it now.

He is beyond tired,
beyond angry
wanting love and not wanting it.
I scoop him up and love him anyway.

Remembering

From the back of the van
through the wild giggles,
squabbling and screeching
I hear:

“Know what’s most important, Mom?
You guys. You and Dad.
I mean, I love my stuffed animals
and all, but you guys are the most important.”

The house is quiet now,
and this memory floats to the top of my mind
having simmered all day
in a cool June summertime way
with outside haircuts and outside play.

It’s ready to bite into.
It’s ready to be remembered,
to make a difference tomorrow
when the sauce isn’t so sweet.

When does Time stand still?

The three little ones swing
at the park, giggling.
I take a cue from a friend
and ask each,

“Do you feel happy?”

“Yes!”
“Yes…”
“Ga!” they answer in turn.

“What does it feel like?”

“Good.”
“Windy…”
“Ga ga ga ga ooo”

We rush down the slides
on the way back to the van,
making a train, helping each other –
(just once more!).

And we scoop up our biggest one
from lesson at the violin teacher’s house
before snacks,
fresh diapers,
bathroom breaks,
uniform,
baseball,
dinner,
pjs,
diaper,
bathroom,
stories,
blankets,
bed.

Fifteen minutes at the park
during the thirty minute music lesson
Time had nothing on us.