For the A-Z challenge, we decided to post a new and original poem every day (yipes!) Today, Juliet tackles the letter "A" with a poem about her daughter, Lilly.
A Girl
When the millennium hit,
Our cat fell three stories onto a concrete alleyway.
She lived.
And maybe that is why,
You decided it was time.
Lodging yourself into the wall of my womb,
Spinning from seed to embryo, to baby.
Exactly nine months later,
You arrived.
Eyes so squinty I wondered if there had been a mix up,
Even though I’d watched in a mirror as you emerged.
A girl.
From the beginning you were more watchful than your brother.
Lashes as powerful as my own once were.
You took cues.
You waited us out.
You kept secrets.
You keep them.
Peacemaker in the way you harbor danger.
Dazzling as you absorb the world.
But be careful my girl.
The earth is too big and too greedy.
Don’t let it live inside you.
Spew it forward.
Tear loose from it before it gobbles and gorges.
Keep your secrets.
But stay close,
So that I can (still) rub your head.
©2013 Juliet Bond all rights reserved
©2013 Juliet Bond all rights reserved
That's a lovely poem :)
ReplyDeleteWonderful poem. Your daughter will treasure it. I'll be tuning in again for the rest of the alphabet.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ann!
DeleteLovely poem. Poetry every day sounds like a great challenge.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteBeautiful, Juliet!
ReplyDeleteThanks, beautiful!
DeleteHow sweet! I want to go write a poem about my girl :D
ReplyDeleteYou should! But now my sons are annoyed with me...I still need a poem for the letter y...
ReplyDeleteThat was great and a nice ode to your daughter! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Mar.
DeleteLovely! I can't wait to read more during the A-Z Challenge.
ReplyDeleteYea!! I hope you return.
DeleteWhat a beautiful daughter Juliet has! I like the poem very much :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Captain America ;)
Deletepoets are within every word... this was a great piece.
ReplyDeleteJeremy [Retro]
AtoZ Challenge Co-Host
Oh No, Let's Go... Crazy
You rock, Jeremy! Thanks for co-hosting!
DeleteLovely poem filled with sage advice & love for your daughter.
ReplyDeleteI want you to meet her :)
DeleteAbsolutely lovely. Looking forward to more from y'all!
ReplyDeleteHarper
harperheath.blogspot.com
Thanks, Harper!
DeleteGotta tuck that one away somewhere! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, DL!
DeleteOh, beautiful daughter dedication! Very nice.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Hart!
DeleteA lovely daughter poem - thank you!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Dawn!
DeleteThat was beautiful!
ReplyDeleteYou are so kind :)
DeleteJuliet,
ReplyDeleteI love this kind of poetry. I have never attempted to write any myself and am in awe of your ability!
Thank you for visiting my blog and leaving a comment. I am onto B already because we are ahead in time. (Australia) I'm just posting according to our time and dates because it's too difficult working out where everyone else is!
Lovely to meet you!
Of course! How limited of me to think that the world taps on according to my own sunrise and sunset. Australia, how lovely. I'm in Chicago where the wind blows fast and mercilessly and the pizza slices each weigh ten pounds. Thanks for visiting.
DeleteThat was beautiful Juliet. I probably over think poetry too much, because my brain made a connection between the cat, the daughter in the womb, and the lines:
ReplyDelete"The earth is too big and too greedy.
Don’t let it live inside you.
Spew it forward.
Tear loose from it before it gobbles and gorges."
Actually, now that I've re-read it a bit, there's a lot of play in the lines and meanings. Lots of ways they could be tied up, which is great. I love that in poetry.
No, you are right! The cat falling (only losing one of her nine lives), the newness of the millennia, and the wholly exhausting and encompassing experience of pregnancy are all in there. Despite the wealth of joy my daughter has brought me after her birth, I barfed every sting day when she was in my belly. You are insightful indeed!
DeleteBeautiful poem! Your daughter sounds amazing, and your love shines through the poem.
ReplyDeleteShannon at The Warrior Muse
You are so kind! I loved your blog!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWhat a special poem from a mother to her daughter.
ReplyDeleteAwwww :)
ReplyDeleteHappy A to Z!
Thanks for visiting!
DeleteLovely poem :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Emily!
DeleteGreat poem! Fun to visit your blog:)
ReplyDeleteHey, Kat. Thanks so much for stopping by!
DeleteOh, that's a beautiful poem. Thank you for sharing it!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, M.J.!
DeleteThat is absolutely wonderful. What a gift to your daughter!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing.
Mary Montague Sikes
Thanks for reading, Mary!
DeleteI love this poem especially this bit -
ReplyDeleteFrom the beginning you were more watchful than your brother.
Lashes as powerful as my own once were.
I can just see her wide eyes taking everything in.
Thanks so much, Kristy. She is definitely an observer more than a participant. Whip-smart because she doesn't miss a thing!
DeleteWhat an ambitious A to Z project. I love this....made me think back (way back) to the days my baby boys were born.
ReplyDeleteYes! My boys are annoyed and waiting for their poems. Thanks for reading and commenting, Patricia.
Delete"But stay close, So that I can (still) rub your head."
ReplyDeleteThat is beautiful. Love it! Thanks for sharing you love for your daughter.
Thanks so much, Julia! Since she learned to speak, Lilly has asked me to rub her head as she falls asleep.
DeleteThere's so much I like about this, that I don't even know where to begin! But I did laugh out loud at this line:
ReplyDelete" Eyes so squinty I wondered if there had been a mix up,
Even though I’d watched in a mirror as you emerged. "
Priceless!
This poem is lovely, Juliet. I can't wait to keep reading!