Now
Now you are eight months
and then you’ll be eight years
and now you’re the youngest
but then you’ll likely be the oldest.
But we won’t worry about then,
because now is enough.
Now we’re both here
but with places to go
and lessons to teach
and lessons to know.
But don’t you worry about that,
because I worry enough.
A New Combination of Words
Every chord’s been played and combined with lyrics.
No sooner do I think of a song but I hear it
on the radio in someone else’s words.
There are no more firsts, only seconds and thirds.
Language evolves like new strains of germs
but there’s no new sounds (except those made by worms)
and this poem is just words that you’ve already heard
but I’m pretty sure it’s a new combination of words.
Restless Leg Syndrome
This baby is awake–
her legs are climbing stairs.
There are no stairs in bed
but she doesn’t seem to care.
Her climbing muscles fire
with no promise of abatement.
“Restless leg syndrome”
would be an understatement.
Big Days
On Thanksgiving day you pulled yourself to standing. We were all surprised.
On Christmas day you climbed a stair, and proceeded to climb the whole flight.
And on New Year’s Day, what shall you do? Say a word? Take a step?
Maybe wait until your birthday. Your mom’s not ready yet.
Me and Mary
I’m now quite sure that Mary “treasured up all these things”
while nursing baby Jesus. And I hope she could sleep while He slept.
I wonder if she had done much baby-proofing by the time the wise men came.
And did she have a high shelf where their gifts could be kept?
Was Jesus an early walker? He later walked on water.
Or, to prepare for later sermons, did his talking get an early start?
What kind of love did Mary see when she looked in Jesus’ eyes?
So much for me and Mary to ponder in our hearts.
She Ate This Poem
Good to Know
I could gain thirty pounds and still not be technically overweight.
Good to know.
Some celebrities broke up, and some went on a date.
Good to know.
Whole wheat is good for you or whole wheat is bad.
Good to know.
And just for Christmas they are introducing a new fad.
Good to know.
It’s good to know, it’s good to know
and so we put our lives on hold
just to know know know.
Ideas for free, ideas for free
you could surf for a century
all to know, know, know.
I have more than five hundred alleged friends.
Good to know.
And my battery’s life is about to end.
Good to know.
It’s good to know, it’s good to know
and so we put our lives on hold
just to know know know.
Ideas for free, ideas for free
you could surf for a century
all to know, know, know.
No need to think, just click a link,
and the thoughts of every shrink,
consumer, writer, rumor, friend
will come before you in a blink.
It’s good to know, it’s good to know
and so we put our lives on hold
just to know know know.
Ideas for free, ideas for you
to use when there’s nothing left to do…
but no, no, no.
Festive
Tis three days before Christmas
Some Other Year
December twenty-one, shortest day of the year.
All the days are too short as Christmas draws near.
Like the anti-thief in the night, the day will be here,
and I won’t be ready. That’s what I fear.
Let’s give up on the parties and chatter and cheer
and try this again some other year.
Farther
Remember when we used to walk the same old streets but farther?
We had the lovely feeling that our world was getting larger.
Around each bend was something we had never seen before
and we’d get home so tired for we always wanted more.