The first time I time traveled
to the fall of 2018 in my mind
was when your father whispered,
“Look around. Any one of these
could be future family.”
I saw you, with your grandfather’s smile
on your young brown skinned face,
putting down your video games with an ease
you never showed when your father or I asked
to follow a smiling face to adventures unknown.
I traveled again, to the fall of 1990,
when I smiled at your father. We didn’t know
about the spring of 1995. “Just friends,” was what we said.
After all, I was dating someone else,
and if your father(‘s family) had ever time traveled,
he (they) had never seen someone like me
standing under a canopy next to him in the future.
My family was equally surprised.
My heart got broken and mended,
just as yours probably will.
Then I time traveled again, to fall 1999
when I vowed to keep you safe, knowing
there’s only so much a mother can do,
even if she plays video games, watches Pokemon,
and makes time to talk about the small things
to make it easier to talk about the big ones.
I know in the fall of 2018, I will crack jokes.
I’ll be the laid back mom you leaned on
through every big change that came before.
We got through everything as long as we could
laugh about it, even if we cried a little too.
I’ll cry a little in 2018. But I’ll show you
this poem in the winter of 2019, once you’ve settled in.
We’ll joke, “Dear gods! What will we do
in the fall of 2021?” while having your favorite dinner.
Hopefully the taste of rosemary will remind me
to enjoy that moment, and let the future take care of
itself.
Wonderful poem, Rommy!
ReplyDeleteAwww.. even if she plays video games, watches Pokemon,
ReplyDeleteand makes time to talk about the small things
to make it easier to talk about the big ones...
Sounds like me! This is perfect, Rommy.
So deeply beautiful, I felt pulled in to the sweet memories and the heartfelt bond of mother and son and that special journey of raising young and letting them go. Very heartfelt and magical too..love the rosemary connection and the insightful wisdom you shared !
ReplyDeleteLovely to visit your poetic realm, thank you for visiting leaving such generous words!
Victoria
This is soo beautifully evocative, Rommy!❤️
ReplyDeleteVery imaginary, the way this poem is composed. I became the son.
ReplyDeleteHow beautifully you have woven a lattice of your timeline as you look foreward then back as you and your family intertine in lifes jigsaw puzzle.
ReplyDeleteOops! That should be 'intertwine'.
DeleteI like the weaving of the rosemary into the favorite dinner in 2019. If only we could look into the future sometimes. Very tender in the nurturing and then letting go.
ReplyDeleteSo enjoyable, Rommy, and I feel I know you a little better!I love the lines:
ReplyDelete'... I vowed to keep you safe, knowing
there’s only so much a mother can do,
even if she plays video games, watches Pokemon,
and makes time to talk about the small things
to make it easier to talk about the big ones'.
Funny how time earned teaches us to be more sanguine about tomorrows. We don't know what the future holds but we trust some things, some compasses (like the heart, and art) to see us through. That whatever tomorrow brings we'll find a way to sing it. Amen.
ReplyDeleteThis is so moving! The Pokemon stanza just did me in!
ReplyDeleteThis took me back to the falls where we unloaded boxes from two cars, hauling them up flights of stairs to tiny rooms, last minute trips to Target or Walmart to get decor or stuff we just plain forgot in the excitement of girls going off to college. It was bittersweet. You captured those feelings beautifully! Now, I need to go wipe my eyes and blow my nose. Must be allergies, sniff, sniff.
ReplyDeleteOhhhh love love love. Yes! Yes!
ReplyDeleteThat unexpected scent of rosemary at the end gave me goosebumps.
If I loved this poem any more, I would rip it out of the screen and hold it to my heart. The tone is perfect, the motif is perfect, the story is heart-catching... I love it.
ReplyDeleteThis was wonderful. I like the time travel back and forth, the leaps to different scenes in life, & then the philosophy expressed at the end about letting the future take care of itself. I enjoyed the poetic journey very much.
ReplyDeleteI love the easy flow of this dialogue and the humour and love
ReplyDeleteOh I so remember that feeling, when my youngest was three, walking away from me in the park, and I projected to the day when she would be leaving home......as she did, much too soon. It is always too soon. I love this poem!!
ReplyDeleteThis is so creative, and it really resonated with me. Such a true depiction of the seasons of our life.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the adventure.
ReplyDeleteZQ
I adore how you have woven time throughout painting a picture and a story so lovingly crafted here in words.....and the song, You'll Be In My Heart, makes me cry...one of my favs too.
ReplyDeleteSuch a good piece to read, most enjoyable.
ReplyDeleteLovely piece!
ReplyDelete"to enjoy that moment, and let the future take care of itself." The one and only way to make peace with time. Love those snippets of time travel in course of this life journey.
ReplyDeleteLoved each word.
ReplyDeleteAwww, Beautiful! Big Hugs to your baby boy!!
ReplyDeleteYou sound like the greatest mother!
ReplyDeleteSuperb poem. Loved the time machine conceit. As I am going to become a first-time grandfather any day now (actually, any hour now), this inspired me.
ReplyDelete