the song of the family: winter

This was a fun one. Partly inspired by an Exhale Taylor Swift writing prompt and partly from Steinbeck’s The Pearl, I wrote it with my nine year old in mind. She has asked to read my poems but as she firmly believes a poem must rhyme, I didn’t feel like sharing any of my recent ones with her. So it was fun to read this one aloud to her! Got some laughs.

cheerios crunching underfoot
magnatile towers crashing down
vroom of the roomba making its rounds
look! look at this! can we read a book now?

wails, cries, as Daddy is leaving
someone is always earnestly singing
the same line over and over again –
the toddler’s still determinedly grieving

tinkering on the piano, the same tune
splashing in the sink – there’s no more spoons!
can I have more? can you get a bowl?
almost done with this, I’ll be there soon

falling hush of nap mid-day
burrowing under blankets to read
the tiny clicking of perler beads
savoring the silence each of us needs

then a barrage of noise and backpacks
can you sign this and give it back?
can I go ask them to play with me?
Dad’s home! dinner’s ready! – no more snacks!

evening sounds like teeth being brushed
I’m sorry, will you forgive me, family prayer
peace be with you, finding pj’s to wear
goodnight, I love you, slowing the rush
now one final song, and one final touch