Roman at three
“It's a flower!”
Upon the hand
Plump glad smiles to signal
The exploration
“See, I found it.”
A look to the woods
A gesture
A knowing of the gift
“It was just there.”
And gold sparks fly
From within the eye
Of the bearer of fruit
“It's for you.”
And a tear wells up
While the heart explodes
My beautiful boy
I love you.
King of the Castle
(Roman at 5)
The castle walls
Stone, concrete, mud
Built to last
The toughest conquest
Roaming arms
Legs, feet and eyes
A climbing child
Full of laughter
Exploring this world
Imagining, creating
How many things to do,
See and wonder about?
A valiant knight
Saving damsels in distress
Solving the puzzle
Of escaping the maze
Tunnels and towers
Maybe even traps
Only the clever can become
King of the Castle
“Beauty is my child’s face.”*
Is there a more perfect sight than the face of a beloved child? Is there a more perfect feeling than stroking the softness of their skin? Is there a more perfect smell than inhaling their sweet scent as you envelope them in a tight embrace? These are some of the intoxicating wonders of motherhood. How I love to dwell on my child’s exquisite features, but no matter how long or how intently I gaze, the image is always changing. It is the nature of childhood.
* © from 'Being Mummy' by Anne‑marie Taplin, published April 2007