Blessed Two

 Teeth brushed,  stories read       four tonight,

he chose them all, 

songs sung,

hugs given

good night said.

Cherub face response

“good night gg.’

“I need water, gg”

            I forgot to fill his water bottle.

 I fill the water bottle,

Cherub face,

“thank you gg.”

“gg,  Gg”

“my water bottle doesn’t work”

             I retrieve the faulty water bottle,

suck it does not work,

“see gg, you did it wrong,”

I unscrew the top,  afix the straw,

it works now,

 I say gently,

“good night sweetheart,”

cherub face, 

“close the door gg”

I close the door carefully. 

“gg,”

 I hear GG

I wait,

“ GG, GG, GGGG,”

 “my water bottle is leaking”

slow steps carry me to the door,

“gg my water bottle is leaking.” 

His pillow is wet, his pajamas are wet,

“maybe you can put it on right this time.”

I change his pajamas,  I change the pillow,

I put the lid on right.

“Good night darling,” comes out of my mouth,

 I look

at grinning cherub face.

“I love you  gg.”

I do not bang the door or shout.

gkn July 2017

This Morning

Pink roses, long mauve stems of hostas' in
bloom wave a gentle good morning
as the lavender's brightness

 shouts.

 chickadees, robins, jays,  cardinals,
and the many sparrows,

we called them all sparrows,
 in my childhood, or starlings,
I don't see or hear many of them anymore,

call to me,

echoes of children,
riding bicycle,  squabbling,
toddlers giggling,
 as they
remind
me to play.



gkn July 2017

Summer Day

The bird song surrounds me ,
 as I silently walk with lilies, daisies,
valerian, a single delphinium made it
back this year, 

 a thorn catches my attention.

I jump on my bicycle, ride to the point,
to the rocky shore touch my toes into
the crisp pure waters' savouring every
step, when I hear their buzz.

The strawberries in the front raised bed,
gift of landscape artists, hang over the edge,
red and juicy, as I bend,  my left shoulder
begins to itch and swell.

I am present, I am awake as I water
vegetables, as I spray soap on aphid infested
roses,  as I walk, as I drink my tea
in the beauty of my neighbourhood.

The mosquitos remind me to always be
here,

NOW.

gkn July 7, 2017