Happy Quarter Century My Lovely Big One
by Ellen Rittberg
I waited each day
While you slept. Watched
Sleeping baby boy diffidence
On orb of closed eye,
Eyelashes long but sparse
A primordial pine stand
In cold clime.
You invited the world
While sleeping
Fingers outstretched
The cupped hand
Slightly parted
An ingathering
A huzzah.
I checked for breath
Circled crib-cage
Scanning your horizon
Your face obscured by
Bumper-surround:
Wadded up blankets
Sheets with busy pastel patterns:
Canes cones circles clowns.
Your fingers drummed
The milk out.
One day
The downy head
Bobbed
Hand pressed a toot-toot horn,
Flipped an on-off switch
Knew cause, effect.
Never forget to look beyond
The window, the wall
The welter of emotion
To feel the nub
To see the close-in
And the far-off
With equal clarity
At times
And sometimes with desire.
My once-languorous one
Have you seen the stars
Not when they shoot
Or burn bright
But when they just are
Or appear to be.
Do that or remember to-
Often
With much love
Many more many many more.
Mom.