Enjoy this first draft of a poem about writing and motherhood. |
Once more I am perched in front of my screen Staring at blankness that’s almost obscene My baby boy rolls, yearning to crawl— Will he, I wonder, scuttle into the hall? Toys scattered everywhere; but what does he do? He grasps grimy papers, snarled wires—my shoe! Whine, groan, oh-help-me-moms bellow my way As I endure a futile search for perfect words. Some say, Read a book about writing for stay-at-home mothers “You can be both!” they claim; but I listen to others Who cry, “It’s impossible!” who state, “It’s not true!” And others with negative thoughts to imbue Phew! What a stench! Do I smell a stink bomb!? Sweet infant eyes utter, “What do you think, Mom?” Stopping for changing and feeding and rocking, Some fellow writers might find it quite shocking To deem that I wish to write thoughts on a page, Accomplish ambitions, yet persist to engage My son in a life of adventure and fun Where learning and loving remain number one “Twinkle, twinkle … bitsy spider … life is but a dream,” With stacking rings and letter blocks; forget, forgive, redeem; I snap grand shots of bitty feet, huge steps, and silly smiles— And add these tender moments to my shaky memory files; Then striving to earn the riches we "need" I acquire dull bargains that only impede Impressive visions of progress and joy Of life’s fine simplicities, to live and enjoy; At nap time, who knows? One hour might bring A chance for imagining, a hope that might sing? But an eye remains open, all fancies must go; My boy sleeps ten minutes for three days in a row! Alas, Parenting plus prose mix to make mayhem And what is created? This ridiculous poem! |