Thursday, April 25, 2013

spring of his second year


It’s warm enough
and he opens and closes
the sliding screen door from the balcony

the first spring
he can use his right hand to slide it
then hook with left fingertips and close

the first spring rain
pressing lips against
looking in and gutterally “Bah!”

and giggle, the beginning
movement, the bare feet
puddled, shuffling side to side

over and over, back and forth, surprised,
complete, propelling, clicking closed
opening easy, how had he not before known

the momentum of the door
the smooth, intoxicating
possibility of hands




25 comments:

  1. How beautifully observed! Such daily enchanting discoveries.

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    1. Thank you, Elizabeth! As we watch Gretchy and James grow, I feel life beginning as never before.

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  2. Oh, quite lovely, Ruth! I am charmed by 'the smooth, intoxicating / possibility of hands'

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  3. A big poem - in the sense that it delves into the nature of what it is to be human.

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    1. Dominic, humanness is starting over in me while I watch my grandson, observe through him and my love.

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  4. a beautiful and finely observed (he can use his right hand to slide it / then hook with left fingertips and close) moment ... he is beginning to learn what we spend our entire lives learning, the interaction of spirit (mind, soul, identity) with the material world, and the unexpected truth that this long encounter with the physical is also an encounter with the self, the body as somehow other and composed of material to be moved through space -- hence his surprise at "the intoxicating / possibility of hands" ...

    may his meeting with the world never lose this sense of discovery and magic!

    .

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    1. May it never lose it, James! For my part, I will do what I can to keep it up.

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  5. jesus, because even if we know we can never know. how could i have anticipated that which was once a baby boy might become a toddler and then a child and then a man? i mean, ruth, i know this to be the case but i am overwhelmed to read it here and to know it in this new way, as though i am the one opening the door to possibility beyond the possible. (that undoes itself, doesn't it? but that is the point!)

    each heartbeat is a freaking revelation, each unfolding of fingers. let us never forget. let us learn, unlearn and relearn alongside of one another, all of us children, perhaps only infants.

    xo
    erin

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    1. I have not written all that much about James, and so I have surprised you with his development, as if it happened suddenly. :-)

      Erin, I wish for this, more than anything, to never forget. let us learn, unlearn and relearn alongside of one another, all of us children, perhaps only infants.

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  6. And after seeing the video, Ruth, this poem immortalizes the joy! Delightful.

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  7. Walking, discovering, growing skillful - it's an amazing process stirring such awe.

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    1. Mary, the entire world is synthesized and felt through one being. (I have never experienced anything like this.)

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  8. It was not very difficult to guess, who was discovering the world around him :)
    Warm greetings from a little bit spring like Finland to you and all of your family!
    I wish you and yours lovely weekend Ruth!

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    1. Oh Leena, you know how this is, with your deep attentions to your grandchildren. Thank you, and I pray you are finishing up a beautiful weekend too. Maybe Michigan is more like Finland this year, with a very late spring.

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  9. There are moments in my studio when I stumble across a new way to work with glass. It feels like this. For this I am grateful

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  10. Oh, the forever surprise of his growth! For him, and for you. Like Robert, I am enthralled by the final two lines, so specific and so universal. Thank you.

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    1. DS, the wonder!

      It's so good to see you. Thank you.

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  11. How glorious to re-experience the life of a child in your child's child. Every movement of the hand, every wide-eyed exploration is intoxicating to behold. Through your words I see that tipsy bundle of baby, hands propped on smooth glass, opening portals to countless new worlds.

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    1. Amanda, tipsy, so tipsy!! He wobbles and I'm forever expecting him to fall over, though he's been walking since 10.5 months (he's now 15 months). Oh we had such a glorious afternoon yesterday while his mommy and daddy went out. He and I can make each other laugh hysterically.

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  12. One day, both you and him and his parents will re-read these words and blush with joy at his discovery, your capturing.

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All responses are welcome.