We saw our middle babe off on the bus this morning, for the start of senior school. It feels odd to be walking littlest to his start of junior school without his siblings. There was a time when I had all three ducklings with me on the school run, plus the dog.
Anyway, I wrote this for them this morning.
Moses
I loved you when
your warm heads smelt of milk
and plump fists grasped my waist
on oh so long nights when
you wailed in the Moses basket
and claimed me as your home
I cooed lullabies in your ear
rocked my precious load
chewed your fingernails
millimetre by millimetre
because scissors were too harsh
for life so new
I love you still when
my words fall on deaf ears
and adventure calls
when you grow taller and more distant
spouting quick goodbyes
rather than longed for hellos
You are ours and more
than we could ever be
Bundles of cells and thoughts
jumbled dreams and fierce will
Carrying our hopes
in your clouded breath
One day when my love has ebbed
and my final sunset comes
I will go into the night
believing in many things
but, most of all,
believing in you.