The Bouncing Ball Keeps Bouncing
there comes a line one crosses
or perhaps it is a bouncing ball
when one is a parent
from the sitting up without falling clown-like to the side
to the time the baby awakened,
and you went in to pick her up from her nap
and she stood, leaning over rattling the rail,
smiling big-time saying Out, Out!
you know the rest
down the steps and 'round the block
to a friend’s house
down the steps and into the car
off to kindergarten
up the steps and on the bus
bouncing off to middle school then high school
flying off to college
all mushed together like a layer cake
that icing in between so sweet
you keep tasting it
but sometimes, after a while,
the cake itself feels dry in one’s mouth
and you must wash it down with
water and more water
until you aren’t choking anymore
but only cherishing
the icing
Linda Baie (c)
Also, I want to give a special shout-out to Laura Purdie Salas and Laura Shovan for their poetry books published recently. You can find my reviews on my blog or Goodreads, links under the book covers below. Congratulations, Laura and Laura!
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| https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60784776-zap-clap-boom |
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| https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/63098710-welcome-to-monsterville |
Oh, Linda - more than a few of us will be choking (up) a little reading this beautifully powerful poem. You've captured such a long span of time in these springy, lively lines - thank you for sharing. And so many milestones for your beautiful family in the past six months! Congrats to each of those glorious grands.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Robyn. It's hard not to choke up when you read your poem. Time does fly - too fast. My boys, 28, 23, 21 are all grown and flown - successful adults in their own right. But I remain their mama. I also think of my own parents - 85 and 86 when I read your poem and how memories get jumbled but in the end, love remains. Thanks for sharing! Enjoy your family!
ReplyDeleteLinda, my throat clogs as I read this. Your poem has such momentum to it, flying from one age/stage to the next, and that makes the full stop of that dry mouth and choking so very shocking and visceral. Congratulations on all the joyful occasions! And hugs on the gut-clenching knowledge of time passing and loss in all its various forms. This poem is special. And--thank you for the lovely Goodreads review of Zap! and for mentioning it here!
ReplyDeleteQuite a few meaningful milestones to celebrate with your family, Linda. Poignant poem -- the growing up and moving past, on to the next thing, it flies so fast! Thanks to your generous sharing of pics on FB, I've been able to watch Ingrid and Imogene grow up too. What beautiful girls -- so much to be proud of.
ReplyDeleteThe Circle Game comes to mind. I've been in a Joni Mitchell mood lately. The layers of cake metaphor is just right. Help me to taste the sweet icing! My daughter who just had her first baby in December is already crying because she scooted across the floor mat at daycare. Stop the train!
ReplyDeleteI feel like I've been watching your grandkids grow up, too. It is an amazing journey! So much love in every step.
ReplyDeleteLinda this is so beautiful. Not only did my throat feel it, but my eyes did too :) Thank you for capturing the poignancy of watching time fly (or bounce) .
ReplyDeleteYour many layered cake is rich with filling, Linda. The passage of time and lots of poignant moments. Time marches on, but for a moment you captured its essence. Great words.
ReplyDeleteOh, my...and I just took the Bittersweet quiz on Irene's blog and understand the tears pricking my eyes upon reading this. My goodness. It's all so stinkin' TRUE and worded so beautifully. Thank you, Linda
ReplyDeleteLinda, everyone already said it, how effective this poem is at capturing the bolus of feelings that awareness of time can suddenly create. Thank you for this marvel.
ReplyDeleteOh, Linda, your poem really captured the sense of time flying in its beautiful, terrifying fashion. Each celebration/milestone holds a kernel of poignancy, doesn't it? Such mixed feelings...congratulations on all the accomplishments in your family!
ReplyDeleteLinda, your poem is a significant one for parents. My daughter is already looking into the future when her little girls look their childhood charms and move onward. I have watched your grands through the years and each time a new milestone comes, I say "where does time go." Your poem moves through the stages of life in a poetic, poignant way that makes me pause and reflect on the word, "family". The cake metaphor is amazing. I shall think about this poem all day. Thank you for this gift and congratulations to the grands who are growing up before your eyes.
ReplyDeleteThank you everyone. I rather guessed you would understand & so appreciate your words. Here's another quote about time that I love & it fits my feelings here, too! “Time is but the stream I go a-fishing in. I drink at it; but while I drink I see the sandy bottom and detect how shallow it is. Its thin current slides away, but eternity remains.”
ReplyDelete― Henry David Thoreau, Walden
Such a bittersweet poem. Congratulations on your lovely family and their successes, Linda. I'm sure you played no small part.
ReplyDeleteOh Linda, I love this: "bouncing off to middle school then high school/ flying off to college" and it felt like the bouncing got faster and faster at this stage, too!
ReplyDeleteThe blur of time is made real in your words, Linda...when did they all grow up? Thank you!
ReplyDeleteCount me as one of the ones getting choked up. Our own kiddo's "Bouncing off to middle school and then high school" seems like it was just last week instead of nearly fifteen years ago. Wow. Beautiful, Linda.
ReplyDeleteLinda, thank you for sharing your beautiful pictures and your heartfelt poem. Down the steps, up the steps, bouncing off, flying off, cherishing the icing. You've captured so much in your words. I watch our little ones and know that before we know it, we'll be marking the same milestones. I remember the posts of spending time with the girls, you've done a great job of cherishing the icing, but it does seem to pass so quickly.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, "the icing in-between so sweet" is my favorite line and how those moments matter so much. This poem captures so much about the journey in a short powerful way. I loved the actions of down, flying, bouncing...enjoy all the moments.
ReplyDeleteLinda, your poem got me right where it's tender right now. My youngest went off to university last September and it's been hard this past year. Both of them are here almost every weekend, but it's just not the same anymore, and I'm very aware that soon the weekends will be empty soon too. Congratulations to all your 'little ones'' achievements!
ReplyDeleteYou have made such memories with your grandgirls through the years. As they bounce further and further away, don't forget that you will go with them! (Side note -- thanks for your review of A WORK IN PROGRESS on Goodreads. Read it. So important. I also agree that it's a crossover book for adults!)
ReplyDeleteThanks again everyone. Mary Lee, so happy you liked A Work in Progress - a real winner!
ReplyDeleteLinda, your poem is poignant and touches me as I prepare to watch my oldest grand graduate from high school.
ReplyDeleteAw, thanks, Jone. Congratulations and Best wishes to your 'grand'! Yes, you know about this ball bouncing!
DeleteTotally choking up and reminding myself to always cherish the icing. Thanks, Linda. (And what fabulous pictures!) ❤️❤️
ReplyDeleteThanks, Karen. This really is for all of the PF community, who have watched each other's families grow and change.
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