On Awaiting the Arrival of My Sister’s Child
Sleeping (Photo credit: NoVa Hokie)
I think of you
with wonder and with envy–
a delicate bud rich with the fragrant scent of life
I think of you,
a delicate bud as yet untainted by a heavy air,
and pray.
Let roots grow deep
before the inevitable storms;
let petals lift to a bright heaven.
Let roots grow deep,
held upright by the richness of family,
this precious flower unaware of the rains of sorrow
and a sheltering prayer of love.
This poem is a revision of a poem written 26 (or so) years ago, originally posted here.
That’s beautifully sweet. Thank you
Geoff,
Thank you for the visit, read and comment. I’m glad you liked it.
Twenty-six years! Amazing and interesting.
I like the variation is repeating phrases, along with the slight ripple as well also used. And that last line makes the sentiment of the poem more than ordinary, in one breath changing the timber of voice, the way it is delivered – more personal, more intimate, that notion of a prayer given to a newborn ear. Not understood, yet arriving like a wind. Beautiful.
Thanks, neil
neil,
Welcome and thank you for your visit and observant comment. I’ve always liked what that last line did for the whole poem. Of course, he was a precious babe. He started work today. It is amazing and humbling. I’m eager and tentative about they day mine own fly on their own. Thank you for stopping in and sharing these thoughts.
nicely done and thanks for sharing
wayne,
Welcome back. Thank you for reading and commenting.
A beautiful welcome mat for the Newcomer
Eric,
Thank you. Knowing he was coming sparked my fire for becoming a mother. Thank you for stopping in to read.
I like how you’ve used the repetition in the gesture of prayer, which is indeed very fitting. Thanks for sharing.
Mabel Lee,
Welcome and thank you. In the original draft, I had more of the structure you find in Psalms. I’ve long liked the idea of graduated echoing of imagery. Thank you for commenting and reading.
Such a beautiful wish for someone so young….truly lovely.
slpmartin,
He’s a precious child, even now that he is grown and starting out on his own soon. Thank you for coming by to read and share.
I have to write one of these… becoming an uncle in T-4 months.
Joseph,
Health to mother and child … please pass on these wishes.
Congratulations! I have no doubts your poem will be treasured now and later. Perhaps you can share it with your readers too.
Good take on the prompt & the repetition is totally appropriate to the subject matter. Salute!
Ron,
Thank you for your comment and visit. I felt it worked well together also.
This is good and appropriate for the object of your poem. I enjoyed the read.
Donald,
Thank you. It was a wondrous time. The same child just graduated from college and got his first job. Someday I’ll share the original poem with him. Thank you for letting me share it with you.