Grateful for Small Boys– Poetry from the 3:15 Experiment: August 25, 2009
August 25, 2009 3:15am
My small boy starts
first grade tomorrow.
Already over my shoulder
he reads aloud
status updates on facebook, twitter
stumbling over the rare long word
in a context he can’t determine
or a punctuation mishmash.
This morning it really hit me
how well he can read
how grown up he is
how no matter how often he wails
owee & I want Momeeeee
he is no longer a baby.
Over the summer his face lost
its roundness, his stomach flat & taut.
He can dribble a soccer ball.
He can remember & manipulate
elaborate rules for games.
He is not afraid
to ride his bike in the street.
There is so much he can do now.
The world is huge and full for him.
I wrote this poem last summer at 3:15am as part of the 3:15 Experiment. It’s now Thanksgiving time. The small boy has had a birthday and is 6. I just returned from his conference with his teacher: he’s doing really well and reading at the third grade level. I’m proud of my small boy. I am grateful too that I will be spending Thanksgiving with him off having adventures in our VW van.
What are you grateful for this Thanksgiving season?
For more poetry, catch the train! I’ve been a regular on it for over two years now! Wow! Thanks Gautami for keeping the train running and on time now for over a year!
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