Monday, April 29, 2013

A-Z Challenge



For the A-Z challenge, we decided to post a new and original poem every day.  Today, Juliet tackles the letter "Y" with a poem for her sons.


Youth

My sons barrel through the kitchen,
Presumably starving.
Their young throats ready
To gulp full tubs of peanut butter
Hot quesedillas, burned at the edges
Fresh grapes, too greedy to chew
Swallowed whole.

Both boys
Broke open wide
Hearths thumping in full view
One still burrows in our bed at night
My arm draped across his small, hot chest
The other, fifteen and fierce in his resolve to shed us

Somewhere along the way
My role settled against resigned shoulders
Observe, not direct
Stand so still
Planted feet
As youth races through

Save a white pillow between our heads
Where the night fears can't find perfect, growing boys
Buy new shirts to fit their expanding shoulders.
Protect them,
When they allow it
And fill the cupboards with peanut butter.
I love you, I love you
I love you




33 comments:

  1. My cupboards need Nutella instead of peanut butter, but that extra white pillow is always in my bed :)

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  2. A very sweet (and crunchy) blog concept, Juliet. I'm Beverly, stopping by because of the A to Z Challenge. Enjoyed this! I hope you enjoyed visting Movieland.

    Beverly
    Beverly in Movieland

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  3. Nicely done. brings back memories of my own kid growing up, now she's 21 and has a child of her own.

    Dark Thoughts Blog

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  4. So very sweet. I'm less than three months away from having my 3rd baby. They grow up so fast.

    Thanks for stopping by The Prosers. Congrats on a great A-Z!

    Trisha

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    Replies
    1. Congratulations! Regina and I both have three :)

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  5. Stoppng by on the A toZ: Challenge

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  6. Thank you for your comment on my blog in the A - Z. Really appreciated your poem. Similarly bitterweet sentiment to my own today. Blessings.

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  7. Love that line: resolve to shed us. Definitely reminding me of my teen years. We think we can be so independent at that age but there's so much more to it that we don't realise until it IS time for us to spread our wings and leave home. And some of us get a huge shock! ^^

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    Replies
    1. When my older son read this he said, "I'm not trying to shed you." It's a push and pull, isn't it?

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  8. That's a great poem! My mother would agree about my brothers, lol! (:

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  9. Great poem about great boys! I had two boys and three girls - now all grown with children of their own. They are all flying, but happily they like being a flock with us even though we all are flying in different directions. We are very fortunate - and so are you.

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  10. Wow! I never thought of this before, but WOW is really a great word when you find yourself at a loss for words because something is so beautiful and special and touches your heart. Like this poem.

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  11. Ahhh, yes. The hollow leg syndrome! Thanks for stopping by my blog!



    MakingtheWriteConnections

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  12. Love it! :) -Rebecca from Moxie Writers

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  13. Enjoyed the poem, as well as others on your blog. Good stuff.

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  14. So very sweet. It's hard to watch them grow, eh? I find myself pining for the routines and little kisses from years ago. *sigh* Well, at least they fold their own laundry and help with dishes now, eh?

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  15. Gotta love kids. I only have a daughter, but love my grandsons to death.

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  16. Kids are awesome and they grow up so fast. Cherish those moments.

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  17. I have two boys and this is right on!

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  18. I only have girls but enjoyed the poem. My youngest loves peanut butter too.

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    Replies
    1. You're right! My daughter gobbles just as much peanut butter.

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  19. Thank you for sharing this, so poignant. I especially loved the lines
    The other, fifteen and fierce in his resolve to shed us
    and
    Protect them,
    When they allow it


    Lovely.
    VR Barkowski

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  20. Beautiful! Your words recreate your love for your kids. I wrote a similar essay called Butterflies. Congrats for your A to Z challenge!

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  21. I love this one! Describes growning boys so well.

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