I am the blanket, dependable, frayed and warm . . .
I am the scribe, the keeper of memories, the promise
of remembrance . . .
I am the fire . . .
I am the constant, the touchstone unwavering . . .
I offer kisses of magic, concealed notes of love, unyielding perseverance,
safety in darkness and tempest, fierce expectations and unflinching love . . .
I am a warrior against the relentlessness of time and culture . . .
I am the advocate of aspiration, even in the shadow of failure . . .
I am open arms . . .
I am the protector . . .
I am the provider . . .
I am the potter . . .
I am the mother.
Katie You are mine, but you are more your own Changing, bending, turning back, but always heading steadily toward your intrinsic light. And it is yours. Separate from mine. Do you remember where you grew in my warm rhythmic darkness? Do you remember when we were one? Do you remember how I held you, nourished you, singing softly in the shadows of the night? Must you leave this behind as you find your place in this world? Must my remembrance be solitary? Of course you will find your own space apart from me . . . still, I mourn the tiny person you were. Soft skin so sweet I would clench my teeth in resistance, tiny voice expressing thoughts I had never quite considered, opening my world as surely as I was opening yours. You are my dichotomy: Fierce, but intensely gentle. Ever moving, but so very still. Scowling, with exuberant laughter that is the happiest sound I know. Confident, yet deeply unsure. Strong and powerful, but fearful in the quiet of night. Tough, but tearful. You are everything at all times, canceling yourself out with every fleeting whimsy, every mood, until you become, mathematically, nothing at all. But yet, you remain my everything; my fiercely powerful snuggly little laughing man. How do you turn a moment, in the blink of an eye, from funny-clever-precious to oh-my-God-how-fast-can-we-get-out-of-here? Log rolling across the scuffed and dingy store floor, collapsing in a heap at that unfortunate, unsuspecting woman’s feet. Running down the up escalator in a frantic attempt to escape my grasp. How do you hold my heart, spellbound, while frustrating me to the very depths of my soul? How do you melt me with that crooked smile and crazy eyes, at just the moment I was wondering why I even bother? How can you make me weak in the knees, head on my shoulders, arms wrapped tight, when I thought we had just exhausted all reasonable options? Is it because you’re only two? So perfectly perfect but on the brink of something new?
Wow, published! Thanks so much, Ali!
Love,
MK
Thank you, MK!!!! Thank you for sharing and for inspiring me to do the same. I've been trying to find a way to communicate to the girls how I feel about them now in a way that I would hope they could understand now, but that would also resonate in the future. Knowing that these poems took much effort and attention from you is also inspiring. Just the other day, Greg and I were watching a video of Annalise at 3 and it was priceless, just priceless. Somehow these poems capture a similar spirit as the videos do. It's the imagery, I think.
I'm printing out the first poem and publishing it on my kitchen wall. You're published!
Heather, I'm praying for your friend and her girls. Mine are the same age and my heart really breaks for all of them. Hugs, too.
who doesn't love lou?
heather. i am putting heather r at the top of our prayer list. thank you for sharing.
MK, it's nice to meet you. you are brave and possibly perfectly perfect but on the brink of something new. love that. thank you.
MK – your poems are beautiful and are such wonderful tributes to your children. I think they brought Heather R and her children to mind and what Heather R is going to miss. On any other day, they would've made me smile and reflect on my son and how much he confounds me and makes me laugh at the same time. Instead, today I found out about Heather R and your poems brought a whole different range of emotions to the surface.
I just said a prayer for your strong friend, Heather. No one should have to go through so much in such a short life. It's truly heartbreaking.
MK
Monkees, may I ask for thoughts (or prayers or whatever) for a former high school classmate? I wouldn't have called her a friend, but I've always admired her strength from afar. When we were 12 years old, she had to have her leg amputated just below the hipbone because of cancer. In the 28 years since she has successfully battled breast cancer twice, beating cancer 3 times! Unfortunately, she is losing her 4th battle with this terrible disease. She is only 40 and is leaving two beautiful daughters who are only 4 and 6 years old without their mother. She has amazing family and friends who are helping to make her last days as comfortable as possible, but I am feeling helpless as my heart breaks for her, her family and her daughters.
MK- so beautifully written. Sounds like you have amazing inspiration! Your children are so big! Your ol' friend, Charlene. (Kerry's mom)
sharing is caring. i'm not sure if i learned that at girls scouts or AA, but it's true. thanks for sharing, mk.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE you and your beautiful poems.
Angie
Thanks, everyone, for your kind words. I've never written poetry before but a wonderful professor is making me try, in a effort to become a better teacher of writing. It's been fun, and scary, but mostly fun.
And I love it that a few of you said "Thanks for sharing" because that's EXACTLY what our professor makes us say when we sharing something we're written. In fact, it's ALL we're allowed to say at first.
This was fun. Thanks, Glennon.
This is such a tribute to your children and their unique relationships with you. Beautifully written, and a wonderful gift for each of them when the time is right.
MK
What treasures, the poems and of course your children! Thanks for being brave enough to share.
MK, that was beautiful. What a wonderful gift for your children.
Lovely, MK! Thank you so much for sharing.
Beautiful and timeless treasures! Thanks for sharing!
I wept, and feel the same way about my son that you describe in your feelings about Katie. Thank you!
Roses are red
Violets are blue
Your friends write great poetry.
I second that Brooks…Yay MK!! I'm sorry it took me so long to say it.:)
Love you.
Thank you for sharing your poems. I sniffled all the way through, especially because I feel so deeply the dichotomy you describe. Thank you for sharing your beautiful children so lovingly and honestly.
MK,
These poems have left me speechless and spellbound. WOW! These should be published, seriously. Thank you.
XoXo Susie.
Thank you for sharing such tender thoughts. So wonderfully sweet. Love it!
Jennifer
What beautiful words and beautiful people! Thank you for Sharing!
These capture K, H, and S SO well. Beautiful. Thanks for sharing them.
karen
YAY MK! WHOOOO HOOO!
Love,
Brooks
love it MK. what a perfect high school graduation gift some day down the road for them to have. not only are those poems something to cherish, but so are those kiddos. beautiful.
Wonderfully beautiful!!
What a beautiful tension between the reality of our babies growing up and all that entails and the fierce love of a mother. Thank you for sharing.
Beautiful poems for beautiful children.
Those are great poems. I bet your kids are great. I love me some redheads.
What lovely tributes to your children. Thanks for sharing.