Day 16 (11.16.2010)

StackTumbleStack

            (for Liam)

one

beginnings:

tears, fears, hope

personified in

tiny fingers,

tiny toes.

     two

laughter out

of smiles, develop

into phrases full

of promise too

important not

to keep.

          three

we went

from three to

four before

a third Fall

counted another

number for you

& sharing with

a baby seemed

so easy for a

boy like you

     four

the conversion

to hero complete,

all the options remain:

über or noir,

the choice too close

to impossible, so

you settle for

being both

            five

school in,

you’re never

out of ideas:

words bloom

as letters form

easier & easier

on your tongue

& your mind

a trap that

catches all

the prey my

prayers could

ask

____

Five years of moments fall

like exploding stars, dusting

a world that keeps expanding.

There is no tumble down a

growing boy & his sidekick

brother won’t soon rebuild.

____

                 soon enough

yearonyear

                  need will slack

inchbyinch

                  infallibility fades

lifegoeson

  

____

thanks, 

son,

for 

your 

first

five 

years

I’ve 

grown

as 

much 

as

you 

have