Today was the day we situated
the play yard around the living space
which the child decided was ripe
for launching legs and limbs in rapid
articulation from edge to edge
past the barrier to the forbidden
bare floor zone leading to the precipice
of the stairway and the kitchen
after some deliberation I decided
it was not appropriate to call it
a play yard perhaps more of an okay
corral it will make do for a child
who suddenly is unsatisfied with place
which she would replace with motion
how unlike I think as I stand in
the kitchen washing dishes scraping
bits of food she should not eat yet
I pause sobbing into the suds thinking
of the moments almost a year ago
when for thirty hours she deigned
an interregnum of motion having
determined the spot in which she had
been placed for nine months or so
perfectly suited to her situation
it was decided it was time for her
to arrive however without her immediate
consent I sat in the hallway helpless
not that I would have much to do
in either case in my fabric footies
and impromptu antiseptic attire
having no idea if she if she would be
okay if any of us would be okay
if this world she so boundlessly springs
forth into having no idea of her
destination will be okay all I can do
is wipe the rinse away and place
the dishes in their appropriated places
and collect my thoughts hoping
this space will be okay we will be okay
we will all be okay
Tag: Parenting
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Okay Chorale
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Growing Teeth
If nothing else
let this day be remembered
for upon the uncomfortable
fitfulness of nap time
interrupted by cries
irresistible to human ears
attached to my cranium
I picked up the child
who let me become acquainted
for an hour or so with
the personification of sleep
which I in my infinite wisdom
accepted as did the cat
who insisted on joining us on my lap
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Nap State of Mind
Starting to think the child
is already picking up
my worst habits
like staying up too late
for no real reason
except in this case
it’s the middle of the day
and a nap that need not
be abandoned yet
that will no doubt affect
the rest of the day such
as it is with little rest
until eyes so tired
they won’t let sleep arrive
might need to stay up
a little later to describe it
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Attachment Theory
Begins with maybe crying
for a minute when not
so long ago sleep came
without a second thought
Occasionally crawling
into distracted arms
for the presence lacking
momentarily
I’ve not been tracking
each independent milestone
except when the obvious
becomes apparent
The truth is each child
will let you know
their own mind
when they want to
They somehow know
saying goodbye
is the habit of a lifetime
and can wait
a little longer
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Screen Fatigue
For a moment
staring at herself
on the screen
smiling indiscriminately
interrupted by her mother
on the other screen
at the quiet service
brings on the breakdown
twilight after the storm
she had had enough
reached maximum fun
and cried until bed
I reflected how
the lateness of the hour
changed perception
at eleven months
perhaps senses undeveloped
could comprehend
the replication of sight/sound
at a distance as only loss
in that not dissimilar to us
staring at ones and zeros
bits we keep unbidden
as approximation of life
only we have filtered
to improve appearance
these reticent tears
now with extra in person
false smiles we knew before
to keep under masks
all we have left after
so much loss unheard
seeking lullabies to comfort
us rocking sobbing gently
as shadows of the evening
streak across the sky
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Track Changes
Still not used to getting
used to you shaping
your mouth into the shape
of awe—a new trait
while staring at our pictures
we framed to put on the wall
before you had eyes
starting to stare at us with.
We might remember
to mention this the next time
someone asks what you are
getting up to—either
that or how often we notice
how your head has grown
even after a short nap or
how often we take pictures
to stare at when you sleep.
Some of these changes
we track as they pass—
some we lose sight of
as nothing changes at all.
For all we know you were
always here waiting for us
to be ready for you
finding things that were
always there hiding underneath
now suddenly out in the open
staring in wonder at
for instance—trees.
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Sleep Regression
I have heard the term
in reference to our current
situation wherein the hours
that used to be filled
with silent sleep now
a torrent of fitful squalls
asking for more of what
might return her to a state
of perfect being whatever
that might be would that we
regress to a sleep as earth
in stillness welcomed
a pair of sojourners
at the point of desperation
the child laid in a trough
where beasts would feed
after such travail with ox
and asses baying even they
now sleeping could there be
at last some rest?
No says the child as starts
some inexplicable unsolicited
drumming in the background
here is a shout or three
just when you thought
there could be some sleep
this creature is there
barely within reach
to remind you only of what
makes us human after all
Joshua Keiter 