Reflections, a Sonnet and a Son

 

Near the Killynether Wood, Northern Ireland, 2006

Recently I posted about the incredible and world shattering fact that my oldest son has reached the age of two and twenty. It’s a fact I am still puzzling about. I am really not certain how this all transpired. Wasn’t it just a short time ago when I took a full thirty-five minute video of him swinging in his sling? Yes, more than a half hour of nothing but squeak  squeak, squeak, as he slept, his head lolling to the side, and me sitting there all starry-eyed with the camcorder catching every forth and back motion, the proud smile of a total dufus on my face.

Well, since friends like Jennifer, Vincent and Kristine seem to like when I post my own poems, I thought I would include this one here. I wrote it for my sonnet submission in my final project for a creative writing course. You won’t remember it, Josiah, but one of those days I had to bring you to class with me, and Dr. Brown taught most of the lesson, carrying you and bouncing you from one hip to the other. This poem, she agreed was the masterpiece of that portfolio, so thank you, a tad belatedly, for your help in getting me that A grade.

                      Reflections

   Your tiny fingers stretch and reach for mine
   with grip so strong and firm for one so small
   as you.  I watch them tense and curl, so fine,
   so warm.  I gently touch, caress them all.
   A tiny mirror whom I reach down to hold,
   amazed that you are part of me and yet
   a person of your own, a tale untold
   of future heartache, joy and sad regret.
   I smile and smiling back you stare at me
   with eyes as wide as moons that watch the sky.
   Am I too a mirror? What you may someday be?
   What do you see as quietly you lie
        within my arms? But while I keep
        this wondering, you softly fall asleep.   

            - David J. Bauman  (1991)

20 Comments Add yours

  1. Oh, I can see why you got that A…this is beautiful.

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    1. sonofwalt says:

      Aw, thank you, Susan!

      Like

  2. slpmartin says:

    A wonderful sonnet indeed…a precious memory for you son no doubt.

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    1. sonofwalt says:

      Yes, indeed it is. And thank you.

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  3. Yes. Yes, I DO like it when you post your own poems. And a sonnet–wow! I especially love the image “tiny mirror.”

    More, please?

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    1. sonofwalt says:

      Haha, ok. Tomorrow (er. . . later today)

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  4. That’s just lovely.

    I love the story behind it as well.

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    1. sonofwalt says:

      Thank you, Tilly dear.

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  5. mixedupmeme says:

    Beautifully written. And what will you write here when he turns 40? lol
    I am about to watch a son do that.

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  6. keatsbabe says:

    Beautiful – and more so because at that exact time I was doing the same with my own son, the same age. Thank you x

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    1. sonofwalt says:

      awww. . . 🙂

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  7. ManicDdaily says:

    Lovely sonnet – mine are even a bit older! Crazy. k.

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    1. sonofwalt says:

      Thank you, K!

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  8. N Filbert says:

    thanks david – i too appreciate when you share your own works 🙂

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    1. sonofwalt says:

      Thank you, Mister Man. 🙂

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  9. Anonymous says:

    It’s a sweet and lovely tribute to your son.

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  10. the words of a man who totally owns and savours the role of fatherhood…a role that many took far too lightly….huge respect to you…lovely poetry.

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    1. sonofwalt says:

      In gratitude. 🙂

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