Happy Birthday

Happy birthday to my little man!

Your laughing voice cheers me
Your embracing arms soothe me
Your little round belly invites me
To fill it up with vanilla ice cream.

Your busy hands challenge me.
Your giving heart heals me.
Your inventive head makes me yearn for
another story about another drawing.

Your joyful smile warms me.
Your twinkling eyes lift me.
Your dancing feet sweep me
Up in their rhythm.

Piano Practice

Listening to my son
Play the piano
Is like a pointalist painting

My mind fills in the blanks
Between the missed notes
And imprecise rhythms

And creates a symphony

Ice Skating

She has jettisoned the
Stability Bucket

Her arms are rod straight
Out at the shoulder
Hands extended
Palms down
For perfect balance

She is taking

tiny

little

steps

taptaptaptaptaptap

As if the too much pressure from her
Small brown skates could crack the ice
At any moment

She has on the Giraffe hat
That was intended for her brother
She has claimed it as her own
It is so big that it covers most of her face
All you can see is one little green eye

And a huge, proud smile.

Skiing

Oh crap
Oh crap
Oh crap

This is too fast too fast too fast

Turn
Turn
Turn
Turn

Snowplooooowwww

Stop

Is he okay? Turn around quickly.

Here he comes in his red coat.

Just like every time.

Proud.