Monday, April 1, 2013

A-Z Challenge



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

54 comments:

  1. Wonderful poem. Your daughter will treasure it. I'll be tuning in again for the rest of the alphabet.

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  2. Lovely poem. Poetry every day sounds like a great challenge.

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  3. How sweet! I want to go write a poem about my girl :D

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  4. You should! But now my sons are annoyed with me...I still need a poem for the letter y...

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  5. That was great and a nice ode to your daughter! :)

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  6. Lovely! I can't wait to read more during the A-Z Challenge.

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  7. What a beautiful daughter Juliet has! I like the poem very much :)

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  8. poets are within every word... this was a great piece.

    Jeremy [Retro]
    AtoZ Challenge Co-Host
    Oh No, Let's Go... Crazy

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  9. Lovely poem filled with sage advice & love for your daughter.

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  10. Absolutely lovely. Looking forward to more from y'all!

    Harper
    harperheath.blogspot.com

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  11. Gotta tuck that one away somewhere! :)

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  12. Oh, beautiful daughter dedication! Very nice.

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  13. A lovely daughter poem - thank you!

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  14. Juliet,

    I 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!

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    1. 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.

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  15. That 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:

    "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.

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    1. 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!

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  16. Beautiful poem! Your daughter sounds amazing, and your love shines through the poem.

    Shannon at The Warrior Muse

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  18. What a special poem from a mother to her daughter.

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  19. Oh, that's a beautiful poem. Thank you for sharing it!

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  20. That is absolutely wonderful. What a gift to your daughter!!!
    Thanks for sharing.

    Mary Montague Sikes

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  21. I love this poem especially this bit -
    From 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.

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    1. Thanks so much, Kristy. She is definitely an observer more than a participant. Whip-smart because she doesn't miss a thing!

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  22. What an ambitious A to Z project. I love this....made me think back (way back) to the days my baby boys were born.

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    1. Yes! My boys are annoyed and waiting for their poems. Thanks for reading and commenting, Patricia.

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  23. "But stay close, So that I can (still) rub your head."

    That is beautiful. Love it! Thanks for sharing you love for your daughter.

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    1. Thanks so much, Julia! Since she learned to speak, Lilly has asked me to rub her head as she falls asleep.

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  24. There'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:

    " 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!

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