Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Poetry Quickfire


Caught in the Whirlwind


My tightrope gives away
when the rumbling begins.

Parts of my soul plummet
as tremors flood through me.

Clinging to my badge of peace
when heart breathes deep.

Channel tears to positive
as once infant settles.

I may need to rework this one, but I'll share with you what I quickly felt in keeping with the instant inspiration at the heart of my poetry quickfires.

It was another tough afternoon with my 6 year old yesterday. He came in like a storm, but eventually relaxed into a happy mood. I'm trying to weather these storms a bit. I know that he needs me in some way. This first grade year has been rocky to say the least. Hopefully, he'll be an easy teenager. Speaking of teenagers, my oldest son turns 13 in 2 weeks! Yikes! He battled me with this cranky charge, "Mom, did you shrink my favorite pants?" My response: "I think all those HUGE chocolate chip cookies expanded your waistline." He wasn't thrilled with my little comeback :)

Thanks for listening.

32 comments:

Betty Manousos said...

I so love this lovely dialogue with your little one! I'm very sensitive with children.I love your blog, it feels honest and authentic!
Thank you so much for following CAD.
I am your brand new follower , too.

Robyn Campbell said...

Oh Kelly how lovely. The title is super and I especially love the line,"clinging to my badge of peace when heart breathes deep.

And I have gained a couple of pounds so I kinda feel for your son. Or maybe, just maybe I shrunk my jeans in the dryer. Hmmmmm :-)

T Rex Mom said...

By the way, love the Chagall painting on the side bar.

Lovely words - I hear what you're saying so clearly.

At least 1st grade is half over!

Be well.

Anonymous said...

The truth hurts sometimes! :O)

Christy said...

I second T Rex Mom, at least it is half way over. You are still in my prayers even though I have been a silent blog stalker lately. :) I love your poetry quick fires.

glnroz said...

to me, the poem needs no changing. to me, i see no change needed in anything.

Caroline said...

I am going through this with my 9 yr old. I am learning that she needs me...even though she first pushes me away. Her anger stemming from insecurity and and having too much on her plate. So bye bye piano...one less thing for her to stress about. And I am now spending alone time with her everyday..reading, or just talking...oh what a difference it is making!

Love your poem!

kayerj said...

It's lovely and how nice to quickly put your feelings into words. you can always go back and rework, but it is always hard to recapture a moment.

He & Me + 3 said...

Love your comeback. LOL Beautiful poem too. Hope your 6 year old is better soon and easier.

christy rose said...

Love your poem Kelly! Just keep hugging! He will make it! :)

Vicky said...

Oh that first verse made me think instantly of my 9 year old and I can immediately relate to what you are saying :) Always holding my breath and tiptoeing to see what mood he will be in when he gets home from school... love this quickfire... I think you got it perfectly right!

Jenners said...

I like where you are going with the poem.

And my son has been ... how should I say this nicely? A bit of bitch lately. I think it is because he is fighting naps all the time and he really really needs them. Ugh.

shabby girl said...

How absolutely painful it is to hear your child suffer. In any way! It hurts!
I wonder if it makes it worse to give it soooo much attention? And believe me, I did give it that much attention!!! I'm thoroughly hoping that you get an answer that I didn't have! ( I still have grandkids coming!!! )
Oh, BTW, I do not believe that there is anything that comes close to an easy teenager. Really. I'm sending you strength and perserverance!!! :)

Susan Fobes said...

I like the poem and it really fit me today. I had a particularly trying day at school then at home with my son. Add to all that the stresses of midterm testing and all the preparations that go with it and that tightroper is me too. (We must be living parallel lives or something.)

13? Oh no-teenage "heck!"

Caitlin said...

I'm sorry that first grade has been such a rough year for your little guy. Beautiful poem, though.
I think that 13 was my hardest year, but maybe that's because I was a girl? Keeping fingers crossed that boys just sail through the teen years (please oh please...)

WordsPoeticallyWorth said...

A well expressed poem, and quick-fire too, so well done for that. You always express positivity so well - an inspiration indeed to behold! Thank you. Take care. Bye.

Joanne said...

I know you've posted about your son's 1st grade experiences earlier in the school year. I'm sorry it hasn't eased up a little. There's nothing worse than watching them struggle, maybe an extra dose of chocolate chip cookies for him!

Creativity said...

Soooo Lovely Poem. Advanced Birthday Wishes TO Your 13Year Old :) :) First Grade Hero Rocks :) :)

Nina said...

I like this, especially after reading how you are being "challenged" by your children. (we never did that to our Mom's did we??... Of course we did to some extent) Your poetry captures the frustration of being a parent, the wanting to explode but the calmer breath takes hold and "Channel tears to positive
as once infant settles."

You are a talented soul and it sounds like you are a supportive and compassionate parent. Keep up the good work on both!! ((hugs)) Blessings to you and yours. Love and Light, Nina P

Corrie Howe said...

You are getting it from all sides aren't you? Well, I hope to encourage you by reminding you that all this will one day pass and it will be a distant memory.

Wendy said...

my seven year has been going through some moody spells as well. and one day....none of his pants fit him! it was crazy...he grew out of them in a week! lol....

christy rose said...

If you stop by and see me, I have something gorgeous for you. :)

Bay Jones said...

Wow, I guess now I know that my 1 year old back talk will only keep going. LOL at the come back, don't think I could have been that quick on my toes.

Hyacynth said...

I love reading your quickfires. Praying that you're able to be a rock for him when he needs it. (And that this time period will be that of an adjustment and after it passes there will be more sunshine than storms.

Corinne Cunningham said...

Hyacynth from Undercover Mother sent me over :) I loved the poem... and I can so relate to the storms that are little boys. My three year old keeps us on our toes.

Becca said...

So beautiful! Wow! I really can't believe you are about to have yourself a teenager! Good luck with that, I hope he is easy on ya!

Flory said...

I hear you! Love it when you do your quickfire poems. I wonder if they teacher can give you an idea of what's bother him in first grade...

Sneaky Momma said...

I saw your sunflower pop up in my followers gadget today and thought to myself. "I need me some Kelly!"
I hope that your 6YO is in a better mood today. Your response to your older one cracked me up. If only we lived in a world where chocolate chip cookies didn't have any consequences..... :)

Gerri said...

Sweet comback! People have told me that boys are moody when they are little and they grow out of it. We shall see...

Anonymous said...

Very powerful. I can certainly relate to the tightrope and whirlwind of life, especially when it comes to our children. Hang in there, it will get better. I promise :)

Judith Ellis said...

Lovely poem. Loved the response to you 13 year-old. LOL!

Don said...

The 6 year old and 13 year old both rumble your world at times. It's not always easy to take the higher ground when children storm n, or when they "attack." Someone has to be the adult: oops. That's you, the parent.

Rats!

Enjoyed the poem, but I needed your explanation to understand "once infant" referred to a child who was once an infant vs. "once the infant settles." Maybe once-infant? (Turning a phrase into an adjective is accomplished with hyphens, says he-who-would-advise-poets Don.) ;-)