firsts and seconds…

By John Blase | June 12, 2011 |
In some sense, yes,
it is a season full of firsts:
the first time you feel his skin
or hear him sneeze
or smell his toes
or catch him smile.
Yes, that is the sense.
But love of an infant is of a different order –
it is only seconds.
Tuck them all away inside you
for one day, far from now,
they will help you pass the time.
 
 
 *written for my good friends, Sam and Amanda…

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  1. Sethhaines on June 14, 2011 at 1:13 am

    John,

    I’m thinking about this. I will think about this come August. I’m hearing your words, trying to learn how to tuck the moments away in a safe place.

    Reply
  2. thebeautifuldue on June 14, 2011 at 2:27 am

    I’ll admit its hard in the moment, Seth…you’re so exhausted changing diapers and working for the man and helping older kids with homework and feeding the llamas and stuff…but if you can tuck a few away at a time, they have a tendency to clump and bloom…thanks for stopping by.

    Reply
  3. Sethhaines on June 14, 2011 at 3:11 am

    The man… yeah, there is always him…

    As an aside, some friends and I formed a fraternity in college called Lambda Lambda Alpha Mu Alpha. That’s probably more information than you’d ever want, but I thought I’d share. I’m good like that.

    Reply
    • thebeautifuldue on June 14, 2011 at 4:00 am

      Yeah, too much info, but its alright…I’m gracious like that.

      Reply
  4. Amber@theRunaMuck on June 14, 2011 at 3:17 am

    Maybe this is why people have the littles over and over. They can’t get enough of those rare seconds. This time around for us feels like such an honor.

    We always love your words.

    Reply
    • thebeautifuldue on June 14, 2011 at 4:05 am

      Thanks, Amber…you got grit to carry a little one across an Arkansas summer…grit indeed.

      Reply
  5. Sam on June 15, 2011 at 10:04 pm

    John, a great gift… Brings tears to my eyes for many reasons, not least of which is your love for me and Amanda. We will tuck this poem away too.

    Reply
  6. Amanda on June 22, 2011 at 12:10 am

    Tears for me, too. Beautiful. Thank you, John.

    Reply
  7. L.L. Barkat on June 28, 2011 at 4:51 pm

    I love the idea of tucking them away inside you. Mine are far beyond this stage, but I still hold those memories, and yes, they are still powerful.

    Reply
    • thebeautifuldue on June 28, 2011 at 4:56 pm

      Thanks for your comment, L.L…a pleasure to meet you.

      Reply
  8. Angie on June 29, 2011 at 12:25 am

    I’m not even sure where or how I found you, but I’m so very glad I did! What a beautiful post. It’s like holding onto drops, isn’t it? This passage of time. I grab each child close, yet hold them open to Heaven with a desperation for them to be all His. Thank you for writing and sharing. I’ll be back.

    Reply
    • thebeautifuldue on June 29, 2011 at 1:55 am

      Angie, glad you found me…thanks for taking the time to comment and stop in again, okay?

      Reply
  9. Marcus Goodyear on July 15, 2011 at 3:29 pm

    I definitely wish I could remember the smell of the toes.

    Thanks for sharing your poetry with Books and Culture.

    Reply
    • thebeautifuldue on July 17, 2011 at 2:34 pm

      Thank you, Marcus…yes, that smell is growing faint for me too.

      Reply

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