Pain

The birds fly around so freely, 

careless of the struggles feet below. 

The stress, the decay, the pain.

 

And perhaps what hurts the most 

is realizing how few of us are ever free. 

We always owe someone something.

Mortgage, rent, loan. 

Slowly, we drown. 

And most of those we owe are also in the deep. 

Obligation. 

It’s unsustainable. 

How long can we survive? 

And off go the birds, 

free as the skies.

My Bug

It wasn't your choice to be born first, 

but how grateful we are that you were. 

This family needed your wisdom, 

your laughter, your warmth.

Superhero

To call a mother a superhero 

is to praise her for her strength. 

To thank her for the thankless love 

she puts in every day. 

But to call a mother a superhero 

is to ignore they're human first. 

For the daily miracles we see 

mask the struggle, grind and work.

Your Ada, Forever Yours

I closed my eyes, 

pretending to be asleep,

hoping you'd follow suit, 

minus the pretending. 

I turned and faced away, 

praying your restless nature 

would cease just long enough. 

It didn't. 

You screamed 

and kicked 

and sat up 

and tricked. 

But then you cuddled close, 

up against my back, 

your little arm wrapped around me, 

your Ada (Ah-DAH), forever yours. 

I closed my eyes even tighter. 

At this age, you're chaos personified. 

But I know this age won't last, 

which is why I soaked in the moment. 

You moved your arm 

to guide your hands 

to scratch the back of my head. 

My baby girl, forever seeking comfort. 

I write this because I won't always remember 

how I felt in those few minutes. 

I just know I've lived most of my life without you,

yet I can't imagine life without you.

Your Ada, forever yours.

Look at you

What do you wonder 

when you wander by the window, 

and stare out into a world 

you see in your own way? 

Always opting for outside. 

It's out there you prefer 

than the ever-seeming locked in 

feeling of indoors. 

Perhaps because we know 

containment isn't capable. 

Your boundless aspirations 

are too big to fit in this house. 

Your potential too large to even fit outside. 

That's why it calls for you and you answer every time. 

The moment a door opens, you step through it. 

The moment the blinds separate, you're looking out. 

And we'll be here standing in the doorway, 

keeping an eye from a distance 

on our girl who belongs anywhere she goes.