Friday, July 22, 2011

Baby Face & A Poem by Naomi Shihab Nye


I’m sorry I haven’t been posting as much in recent weeks as I normally do. I have a couple of projects that I've been working on that I have to complete soon. There’s also another reason. I’ve been trying to spend as much time with my daughter Sara and her husband as I can before Sara has her baby. My first grandchild is due by the end of July!

Sara sent me a pre-birth picture of her baby from her cell phone the other day. Seeing my grandchild’s face was a thrill indeed.


Looking at that picture brought back memories of the day my Sara was born…of my only child as an infant and toddler.
Sara on her third birthday


My daughter is a social worker—like her husband. She is the most amazing adult. We have a wonderful relationship.

Sara & I on Mother's Day 2011

I’m posting one of my favorite poems by Naomi Shihab Nye today. I included it in a memory book that I made for Sara when she was graduating from high school.

What is Supposed to Happen
By Naomi Shihab Nye

When you were small,
we watched you sleeping,
waves of breath
filling your chest.
Sometimes we hid behind
the wall of baby, soft cradle
of baby needs.
I loved carrying you between
my own body and the world.


Now you are sharpening pencils,
entering the forest of
lunch boxes, little desks.
People I never saw before
call out your name
and you wave.

You can read the rest of the poem here.

Sara, her dad, & I at Sara's baby Shower in May

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Tabatha Yeatts has the Poetry Friday Roundup at The Opposite of Indifference.
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7 comments:

  1. TabathaJuly 22, 2011 at 9:53 AM

    Great photos, Elaine! Poignant and true poem, too.

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  2. Linda BJuly 22, 2011 at 10:21 AM

    Amazing, but true. I too have a Sarah and her baby is due in two weeks! Best wishes to you and your Sara! I loved the poem; it speaks to me, too at this special time. Lovely photos too!

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  3. Jeannine AtkinsJuly 22, 2011 at 1:06 PM

    Wonderful pictures! Hope the baby shows up as scheduled. In a cool place.

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  4. Elaine MagliaroJuly 22, 2011 at 1:11 PM

    Tabatha & Jeanine,

    Thanks! I hope the baby comes after the heat wave passes.

    ***

    teacherdance,

    Best wishes to you and your Sarah too! My daughter is dying in this oppressive weather--so is her Yellow Lab. It's a good thing she has an air conditioner in her bedroom. I just hope we don't all lose electricity in heat wave.

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  5. TaraJuly 22, 2011 at 4:43 PM

    The photographs lent so much more meaning to the poems themselves...all the best to Sarah and you - what a joyful event to look forward to!

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  6. Elaine MagliaroJuly 22, 2011 at 4:56 PM

    Thanks, Tara. I can't wait to hold my first grandchild!

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  7. Mary LeeJuly 23, 2011 at 6:45 AM

    What an exciting time for you and your daughter (and the husbands, too, but in a different way). ENJOY!!

    ReplyDelete