Happy Birthday to Zeb

Kaitlyn and Luke were at our house 

when the news arrived,  a baby, 

I napped between the texts,  excitment 

fighting concussion. 

Now,  I ride the bus, 

delighted to be able to celebrate, 

to join in,   a party with four 

proud fingers in the air. 

This mornings picture shows 

him dressed as a firefighter,  the other 

day it was a pink flamingo and 

tomorrow...I wait eagerly. 

We marched together at pride,

 come, please, his momma said, 

three generations together,  he said, 

I want the t- shirt with my family on it. 

His smile embraces me,  twinkling eyes 

shining with possibility,  as he shares 

the stories of his workers,  the coffee 

shop,  a home. 

Living with the knowledge of life's fragility, 

always present,  when reminded of his birth, 

gratitude surrounds me,  to love and be loved, 

an open gift from Zebbie to Gg 

returned. 

gkn Sept. 22 2016

Today

I picked a pear, 

was kissed,  drove to the airport, 

ate too much at an Indian buffet, 

smiled in the rain, 

laughter, celebrated a return 

home from hospital, 

hugged goodbye, hello, 

chatted in person, liked a travel 

dream being fulfilled, 

imagined ...

gkn September 2016

38

I remember her birth 

like it was yesterday, 

yesterday, 

I lost my glasses, 

the anticipation, the friend who came 

for the birth, waited with me three weeks, 

held her briefly before departing, 

 

yesterday, 

I left the laundry out in the rain, 

the wide eyed wonder and delight  of her dad and I, 

as we dreamed,  planned and claimed knowledge 

of a parenting journey, 

yesterday, 

I went to the wrong restaurant to meet you, 

her first steps,  the gentle kiss she placed 

on the nose of the spring horse at her 

second Christmas, 

yesterday, 

my bicycle helmet rode in the basket as I peddled to the store

the pushing tears as she waited for the school bus, 

in the pink strawberry shortcake outfit she chose 

with pride, 

yesterday

I did not return that important phone call, 

her bicycle wheels racing down the road when 

she was told her dad and I were separating,  complete with 

her cry of but you promised, 

yesterday, 

I went to the store three times, 

the laughter and tears of sisters,  and friends,

 teenagers emptying the fridge, eating my baking, 

filling the house, 

yesterday, today, 

I celebrate the gift of mothering.

gkn September 2016