Poetry Month: The Blink of an Eye 4 of 30

Today is my son's birthday.  I'm not sure how I have children so old all of a sudden.  It seems I blinked and their childhoods had raced right by.  Happy birthday, John.  

I remember when
you army crawled
across the living room floor.
When my biggest concern
was that you would
steal the pacifier
of an infant
passing by.

I remember when
you fixed everything
in our house
with plastic tools.
When my biggest concern
was which story
we would read
before bed.

I remember when
you raced around
the soccer field
chasing the soccer ball
as if it was magnetic.
When my biggest concern
was that you could
hear us cheering
you on from the sidelines.

I remember when
your friends carried
small televisions
into our house.
Cords made paths
from player to player
in an intense challenge
of skill.
When my biggest concern
was having enough
food for your friends.

I remember when
toy cars were replaced
with real cars.
You'd get behind the wheel
pull out of the driveway
to go here and there.
When my biggest concern
was you arriving home
safely.

I'm not sure when
you became taller
than me,
or when the games
you play
became real life.
When my biggest concern
was that your world
be filled with the happiness
you have given me.

© Cathy L. Mere, 2015

Thanks to Margaret Simon, Leigh Anne Eck, Michelle Haseltine, Linda Baie, Julieanne Harmatz, and Kevin Hodgson for giving the final push.  We are linking using the hashtag #digipoetry.  I have to also thank my everyday poetry mentors Mary Lee Hahn & Amy Ludwig Vanderwater.  They continually inspire me.  You'll find more poetry on the sidebar.