I hold my first grandson, who is 1 month old in my arms. His whole face and sleepy frame speaks of innocence and trust. I really have to get used to being called a Grandma now. The cycle of life loops. I am transported back to the past, back to time I first held my first born in April. We stayed in my family's ancestral home during my maternity leave. It was a hot summer month, yet I felt soothed by the abundance of mango, papaya and banana trees around the house. It was the season of ripeness and the house buzzed with energy.
As a first time mother, I was excited to dive into my new role. I followed the doctor's instructions and kept a diary. If my son would cry or have a bum stomach, my mother and grandmother and I would have a quick meeting and discuss solutions. It was a "mother's conference only" and I was lucky to benefit from their wisdom. My mother's wings were wet, but I flew confidently with their wind sails beneath me.
My son burps his baby, cradling him with strength of giant willow tree.
chickadees frolic
as tropical heat dries blankets-
i smell - milk & sunshine -
Posted for dVerse Poets Pub - Haibun Monday, hosted by Jilly.
Thanks for the visit ~
Tender and wonderful!
ReplyDeleteI love the smell of milk and sunshine... and the change with a father burping a baby...
ReplyDeleteEverything about mothering (and true fathering) should be considered fodder for haiku. There is more nature in nurture that anywhere else. Your haibun is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThis is so wonderfully tender and really have a sense of peace about it.
ReplyDeleteThis is absolutely wonderful and made me smile with memories. Oh yes...the tender smell of sunshine and milk....and the softness of that baby's skin.
ReplyDeleteSure a life loop indeed. Congrats on being a grandma.
ReplyDeleteNothing like holding a new born grandchild. Love the haiku.
ReplyDeleteThis is lovely - I especially liked your last line!
ReplyDelete3 daughters and now 8 grandchildren have provided ample "smells of milk and sunshine"; lots of breast feeding and toddler's tantrums. I adored your poem. It centered me, and transported me out of my daily Trump frump.
ReplyDeleteNice last paragraph about cradling your grandson with "strength of giant willow tree".
ReplyDeleteWhat a blessing to hold your grandson. It must be surreal! And a wonderful blessing too. Lol! I remember my wet wings too!
ReplyDeleteLOVE this, Grace...the wonder, the memories, the way life loops around. Yes, it takes a little time to get used to being called "Grandma" but what an amazing role it is!
ReplyDeleteA lovely sharing of a special time. I had no children of my own but went out to stay with my sister right after she had one of her babies so got to share that wonderful experience. They put him in my room! Ha.
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful and I am so sincere when I say: thank you for sharing. You've brought something warm and new and fresh to me.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Grace! The milk & sunshine sum up your experience. Nothing compares with Grandmotherhood.
ReplyDeleteOh I love this, Grace! It's familiar and wonderful! As you know, I visited my baby grandson at the weekend.
ReplyDeleteI also have to get used to being called Nanny! I love the phrase 'the season of ripeness' and
'as tropical heat dries blankets-
i smell - milk & sunshine'.
First grandson! Congrats Grace! A newfound distraction will take a lot of the free time of the Grandma than the Mom. That is normally the case
ReplyDeleteHank
Hank
Absolutely lovely. Heartwarming.
ReplyDeleteJane (Lady Nyo)
This was so wonderful as my most favorite poems to read these days describe the tenderness and timelessness of mothers' love. The time lapse between your second and third paragraphs was seamless as the sensibility was the same, one baby, one generation, to the next. Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteA beautiful haibun, Grace! Congratulations! :)
ReplyDeleteCongrats, Grace! A lovely poem filled with 'milk and sunshine'
ReplyDeleteThis is so tender and lovely. The season of ripeness is so apt for this moment and the metaphor of your mother's wings is just perfect.
ReplyDeleteLoved this. Especially "My son burps his baby, cradling him with strength of giant willow tree"
ReplyDeletesMiLes Grace Happy
ReplyDeleteno one deleted your
Effort or even
pointed it
out..
for
following the rules..
it's just ironic
when
Art
Becomes
Science but
waiT! aGAIN
that's the Next
PRompt! i screWed uP AGAiN..;)