Parenting Poetry Collection #1
Fill in the Blanks
In the evening…
In the small new home…
In the father’s mind…
In the way of toddlers…
In the way of fathers…
In the bedroom…
In the ears of everyone nearby…
In the heat of the moment…
In the burning of a tired mind…
In the instant the decision was made…
In the freezing of an exhausted soul…
In the flash of an instant…
In the eyes of his beloved…
In the kitchen…
In the way of men…
In the way of women…
In the child’s heart…
In the old, growing city…
In the night…
In the Darkness, Kneeling
In the darkness kneeling. Arms dangling over the rail. Snuffling and whimpering from under my hands only deepen the silence between her cries.
The quiet returns, filling with anticipation, relief, a faint hope. Aching, shifting, creaking. Soft, shuddering breaths. Hope rises. Is shattered.
Frustration boils up. Close to screaming myself. Desperate to bring back the silence. A breath, bringing calm. Confidence, love, resignedly lifting her up. Feeling her tiny ribs beneath suddenly giant fingers.
Rocking, singing. Quiet again. A kiss.
She sleeps.
I miss her already.
