The 'O' in Surprise

I walked these dreams, once my child,
feeling butterfly movement,
I watched sun and sea and shielded my eye,
I kept an eye on you but you were not there yet

and when you were, I taught you cold,
watched your mouth shape into an 'O'
eyes wide, lids still veined delicately
I let you feel the sand scratch your toe.

I waved a wand of sea grass, drew magic,
the wind was cold and blew spume
it landed high onto the cliffs above
that were just showing lavender
but you weren't there yet

and then you were and I taught you how
to tell the time by blowing dandelions
and how you liked butter on chins
and smiles were in silly games
I wove tangles of flowers and dug
a handful of dreams by the shore

I walked with you before you were born
and then again when you held my hand,
I watched you soar like the seabirds,
I fastened wings, gave you a wand
and read you about children who always
stayed as they were and then I blew
and you were grown, with a backward smile

I embrace in the time before, the time during
and now in the all embracing time of watching
you walk your dreams, and wonder if
that beautiful butterfly will ever visit you
and cast you in the complexities, of me and you

I taught you words, so that you could articulate,
I learnt from you, so that I could confound dreams
and make of mysteries in every grain of sand
and watch a gentle mouth shape an 'O' in surprise.



Poetry by Elle The PoetBay support member heart!
Read 712 times
Written on 2015-05-19 at 20:40

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Lawrence Beck The PoetBay support member heart!
This is very sweet, Elle. It does a fine job of describing how it is to raise kids.
2015-05-23


Jamsbo Rockda The PoetBay support member heart!
Very moving and beautifully written. My heart quivered when I read "you were grown, with a backward smile" for it brought together the whole experience of parenthood. That backward smile is worth a million. A pleasure to read :)
2015-05-21


one trick pony The PoetBay support member heart!
one beautiful image after another, coming in like your seashore waves.
2015-05-21


Chaucer Whethers The PoetBay support member heart!
Like music and painting and a true life fairytale all in one.
:)x
2015-05-19