Best Babysat Poems
I have babysat a roomful of six year olds,
my heart beating louder than a pack of screaming hyenas.
I walked out with them quiet and safe in their parents arms.
I improvised a speech to an audience of millionaire entrepreneurs
that ended in a standing 'O'.
Often I danced with titanic sharks,
and even French Kissed Killer Whales.
I have slept deep in the grip of ink black jungles
on mid summer nights, no dream.
Once I hung on with two broken arms
five hundred feet above my demise, without a whimper.
I skated through fields of dead bodies
in not just one but two very nasty wars.
Played tag with the devil and in the end hung
his left horn above my fireplace,
yeah my fireplace I owed him that.
I swam naked on the crest of a waterfall
from the top of its peak to the concrete sheet at its bottom.
Many times, I have partied with death,
her bones drenched in the fluids of our perverse acts,
but not once did she leave the party with me on her arm.
But please,
p
p
p
p
p p p please,
don't,
please don't,
make me talk to my EX-WIFE again!
10~10~2014
Our four grandchildren have grown up before our eyes…it’s hard to imagine that!
Which means it’s been years since they spent the night with us and Deborah and I babysat.
So, when our son and daughter-in-law asked us to watch their golden lab, Juniper
We said yes without so much as a dialogue…
With all our experience babysitting grandchildren we thought it’d be easy babysitting a dog.
And it was…it truly was…because it turns out…this may sound a little wild…
babysitting a dog is a lot like babysitting a child.
They all liked to go on long walks…whether in a wagon or on a leash
they were happy…we could tell…
Our grandchildren loved the sights and sounds while Juniper loved the smells.
They all loved to eat and eat often…meals, in between meal snacks…ice cream and more
(which had us wondering if their parents had ever fed them before).
They had their favorite games…like fetch and Candy Land…and when
that game was completed, they loved playing it over and over again!
One thing we had forgotten about babysitting was all the energy it required…
as our grandchildren and Juniper were ready to continue playing
long after the two of us were tired.
They all loved love and attention…having their hearts and souls nurtured and fed
and they all loved that time at the end of the day when we’d snuggle together in bed.
Babysitting Juniper reminded us of something else we’d forgotten that we knew…
the happy tiredness and contentment you feel when the babysitting’s through.
When you look around your empty house…
that moments ago was filled with so much energy and activity…
and then
You sigh…smile at one another…knowing after a little rest
you’l be ready to babysit again.
So thanks Juniper…
for helping us remember…all those things with the grandchildren we use to do…
which we probably wouldn’t have thought about….if we hadn’t been babysitting you.
A human race of relay and replay,
Their soles push off unforgiving exteriors
And are kept on track by applauded obedience.
Their recurrently blistered hearts
Become calloused by an aura of expectation.
Hedonism is a fort where their souls sit while their bodies work.
They chip at the sedimentary foundation of their spirits
To harvest a second of sedentary cessation.
Their bodies cycle through obligations
While their minds are babysat by empty stimulation.
An evolving species of technological hybrids,
Their eyes are glued to the baggage of what their hands make.
They syphon their own consciousness into blocks of metal.
So advanced, they transform into the robots they create,
And relish in the reality of desolate mystery.
Skilled in the art of artificiality,
The leaders challenge naturality with isolation.
They quarantine those who are sick with manic compassion,
And crush contentment into a take-once-a-day solution.
But here, the wind and trees sing harmonies
Which stop us in our tracks and sweep us off our feet.
We rest our bodies in the arms of others
While our minds explore the layers of our souls.
Our hands remain free to guide the blind into themselves,
And we wear our emotions like an interpretive art.
Here, hardship plagues and endings are tragic.
Negativity festers in optimists’ open wounds
And imperfection dresses each being.
Yet here, unity lies like a blanket over struggle,
And simplicity heals the wounds of humanity.
Dedicated to My Darling Sister, My Punky
Love for my sis makes me like her own Bolshevik
so though I would rather swallow a stranger's lipstick,
I babysat her ground-dweller - her dog - named Limerick.
Once - outside while his wiz-biz defied arithmetic,
I noticed he had one gross fully plump black tick.
All that was nearby were pliers and a yardstick.
When he suddenly rolled over, my reaction was slick -
I grabbed up the pliers and I surely grabbed quick
before thoughts of bloody surgery made me sick.
Limerick was still while I pinched at my gross vic.
I pulled but that slimy tic bugger was too slick.
Over and over, I failed at click, pull and then flick.
When limerick cried out and gave me a tender lick
I called for my husband to join our happy picnic.
He examined Limerick who whined long and thick
then laughed, Honey, he said, you funny lunatic -
You have been pulling at a mole, poor dog has no tick
Helen is hysterical, so witty you laugh until you cry,
She’s a little spit-fire, 4 foot 11 -- a bit of a short fry,
Now I can say that because she knows it’s said in jest,
There is no finer person, as a friend she is truly my best.
We met while nursing where we had so much fun,
Managing to laugh at work yet still get the job done.
While we have switched jobs and moved to a different place,
We are only as far away as it takes to pack our suitcase.
At my Mom and Dad’s funeral I was lost and very sad,
She sat by my side, filling in as family that I no longer had.
Always there in my life for the very best and worst of times,
If I need her, she gets to me, over obstacles she climbs,
Following major surgery she came to nurse me to health,
Her kindness, compassion and care, is her greatest wealth
She babysat my children and made my favourite meal,
Kraft dinner and homemade applesauce, oh what a deal.
She said I needed a pick me up, so she bought hair dye,
Slowly applying the hair colour, careful not to get in my eye.
When my hair went purple and ended up a flashy, brillant red,
She said you don’t need a mirror, just know you don’t look dead.
Our husbands understand our bond, having been through so much,
We never miss a birthday, Christmas or any reason to stay in touch,
I sometimes feel guilty as it seems she is always there to help me,
She’ll say “Oh don’t be so silly, it’s just because I love you Lee”
I never feel so good as I do when I am with my friend Helen,
Together we’ve nursed patients and even the occasional felon,
We met on my first nursing job and she became my best friend,
Some forty years later, our longtime friendship still has no end.
Dedicated to my best friend Helen Tilden
Written July 21, 2011
For contest “Ode to a friend”
Won 6th Place
Two of the kind is never the same.
Similarities this pertains.
Applicable to that, which connects cousins, both females.
Generations palpable.
The one name Rose is the older cousin.
A throne she feels in her side when the younger cousin became part of her life.
A relationship grew.
She babysat Rose’s children.
The younger cousin’s friend lied.
Therefore, she became a thorn in Rose’s side.
The thorn's worth is insight.
Rose and her cousin lost like.
They did not speak for quite a while.
Today the lie is still a lie.
Every Rose has its thorn is the theme of this poem with morale formed.
Why confront a lie when you have not told one?
_________________________________________________________/
Penned on March 19, 2014!
FICTION WRITE FOR CONTEST
For so many years I’ve lived with the shame
Kept it locked in the sullen depths of my soul
He took my virginity; I can’t be held to blame
I was so very young, just an innocent child
when he babysat at night and my body defiled.
He stole my childhood; I can never be whole
You've accused me of lies, bitter vitriolic lies
when I first told you of my uncle’s abuse
I’ll never forget the haunted look in your eyes
when the police officer confirmed it was true.
He confessed there’d been other children too,
you sobbed for not protecting me. It’s of no use
Rhyme time I contest
Sponsored by Laura Loo
cHECKED WITH RHYMEZONE
3/29/18
It hasn’t been so long, you know.
Since I saw, your eyes aglow.
. . . They smiled a little smile for me.
You had your joy, you had your fun.
You had fifteen seasons in the sun.
. . . I didn’t know that you would leave me.
The backyard swing still sways lonely.
Since the day you rode it boldly.
. . . Save a swing sway there for me.
The more and more I think about you.
There was magical love all around you.
. . . The room is now empty, except for me.
Your love is in the trees, wind and snow.
Yes in the streams when I watch them flow.
. . . Heartache and regret, still follow me.
I’m sorry, I never spoke of the little details.
You were so busy with songs and puppy dog tails.
. . . I wish it were, six carryin’ me.
Written for a girl of nearly four. My son was born at the same time my lady friend had twin girls born, and I babysat all 3 quite often. One girl had neuroblastoma [cancer of the blood] and so I also helped them for her last 2 years, Kristen always had a smile, even as she lay with her body of orange, slowly passing.
Lay away.
I had never heard the term
Until I saw a friend use it. We were in seventh grade.
We had both fallen in love with a purse with large ugly brown beads attached to the side.
Hers was blonde, mine was orange.
I lamented I could not have it.
Lay a way, she chanted. Lay a way! Lay a way!
I had never heard of it.
This is where you put three dollars down,
The only three dollars you have,
Your babysitting money that used to come hard back then, when
We babysat a family of six for twenty-five cents an hour.
And you have to come back to the store and pay the rest of the money in installments
Until you are finally finished plunking down the whole twelve dollars.
Her mother had taught her,
And she taught me.
It nearly worried me to death.
Scared I would never get the rest of the money to them.
Knowing not only would the purse not be mine
But that if I could not scrounge up the
Rest of the cash, I just lost twelve hours
Worth of babysitting six children.
I remember how I loved babysitting our grandchildren
how neatly they fit into my arms.
I remember being impressed with their intelligence and captivated by their charms.
How they would spend the night with us…how we’d make sure that they were fed
how we’d play some games, watch a movie then send them off to bed.
How in the morning we’d make pancakes…in any size or shape requested
and smile as our handiwork was so easily digested.
But grandchildren grow up…a fact no grandparent can ignore
and there comes a time when grandchildren don’t need babysitting any more.
So the other night when Deborah had some friends over I thought it would be sweet
to make a date by taking Ali and two of our grandchildren out to eat.
I saw this as a way to spend some time with them
but Ava had a different point of view
She said, “Remember when you use to babysit us, PopPop?
Now we’re babysitting you!”
And I had to laugh but it made me wonder when she repeated it again
What’s the difference between them now babysitting me
and when I was babysitting them?
The main difference of course is we’re all older and they no longer fit into my arms
but I am still impressed with their intelligence and captivated by their charms.
Their world has expanded outward…their life is more complex
our conversations are more adult now..though sometimes their mom objects.
Despite the fact we’re older we still visit with the same joy and laughter and vigor…
although now when we play UNO…the cards seem so much bigger!
They no longer spend the night…and after dinner when I was sure they had been fed
since they now stay up much later than me…I drove home and headed off to bed.
Hoping our grandchildren remember when we babysat…
hoping those days are etched deep in each one’s memory.
hoping they remember the last time I babysat them with as much joy
as I’ll remember the first time they babysat me.
Cluster, clan, hanging bunch of grapes
- bustling collection children I dreamed
- Far from rationale, imagination run wild
- Adult life ridicules, idea is far less esteemed
When I babysat, pretended they were mine
- even the Asian one. Try to stop my stories!
- Wanted to be seen at sixteen as their mother
- Saw caregiving and fun sharer as ultimate glory
Perhaps a great majority of girls feel the same
- playing with dolls, structured, serious business
- But of course, options are much more enlightening
- High valued career compared to the longing within us
Being tied to a community, sweet trip indeed!
- commitment delivered, rewarded for decades
- Blink away your tears, perfection, I'm always here
- Each Mother knows her gratitude returned in spades
11th November
I picture Phyllis – soft and lovely face,
a smile dimpled sweet and luminous;
her fuchsia lips drop syllable in lace.
She carries grace, for God was generous.
In matter of the heart, a lucky one -
revered was she by two who loved her true.
Each one, a moon, they yielded to her sun
and cherished her until their days were through.
The first beloved she bid adieu late spring.
Though cancer stole his life, he’d left his seed.
She wed a second love, which eased death’s sting.
From summer on, sweet joy would then proceed.
Her sons are grown, her late adored – a ghost.
But she has savored seasons more than most.
*This was inspired by a church woman whose boys
I babysat in my youth. She remained a stunning
beauty even into her old age.
May 22, 2023
For Sotto Poet's Sonnet Poetry Contest
I babysat her that fine day-
wrapped up so snug in pink and white.
The scent of baby powder lay
upon her skin- such soft delight.
Just for an hour, while her dear mom
went out for errands to be done,
I rocked and sang to her, so calm,
on their back porch, neath autumn's sun.
Next morn- loud sobbing, I did hear-
a living nightmare had come true.
Just two weeks old- a dreaded fear
turned joy to sadness- impromptu.
I babysat her that fine day
wrapped up so snug in pink and white.
The scent of baby powder lay-
crib death took her away that night.
Sandra M. Haight
True Story - happened September 1958,
to our dear friends, next door - haunts
me still to this day.
SPECIAL AGENT LEROY HEIMBACH HE BABYSAT FOR MY FOUR CHILDREN WHILE SPECIAL AGENT PAULA BRAND INSTALLED THE WIRES ON MY UNBORN CHILD LEROY WAS THE SUPERVISOR I HAD TO CARRY OUT HIS DUTIES I AM BLESSED HE TOOK MY KIDS TO THE BEACH SINGING MY GIRL NO GREATER LOVE HE WAS AN AWESOME FATHER HE HAD FIVE KIDS HIMSELF I FELT MY KIDS WERE SAFE THIS HELPED ME GO INSIDE HOSTAGE SITUATIONS BUYING WEAPONS AND DRUGS FROM JUNK SICK OFFICERS AND MAKE IT BACK FINNY TODAY FBI SUPERVISOR BABY SITTING MY FOUR KIDS IT WAS LIKE HAVING CHILD CARE WHILE BEING AN INFORMANT I COULDN'T WORK IF MY KIDS WEREN'T SAFE SORRY FOR MY IMPOSTER TAKING ADVANTAGE OF SPECIAL AGENT LEROY HEIMBACH LEAVE HIM ALONE YOU WERE BREAKING IN MY HOME LEROY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT TAKE NOTES YOU EILL NEVER EVER CLONE ME JAMAICAN TALIBAN IDENTITY THIEVES RACKETEERING EXTORTING EMBEZZLING VETERANS AND THEIR DISABLED FAMILIES I WAS BLESSED LEROY WAS THIER I WAS HIS BACK UP TODAY MY WAR HEROR GOT MY BACK SPECIAL AGENT LEROY HEIMBACH IS FISHING NOW THINKING ABOUT ME TELEPATHIC BEHAVIOR ANALYST HE TAUGHT ME TO DO HIS JOB WHILE HE PLAYED WITH MY CHILDREN YOU ARE A DOMESTIC TERRORISTS IDENTITY THIEVES SPECIAL AGENT LEROY HEIMBACH NEVER BROKE INTO MY HOME FOR IMMUNIZATION RECORDS TO KILL MY INFANT HE SAT DOWN WITH MY CHILDREN AND I WE HAD LEMONADE AND TEA HE WOULD NEVEER PUT ME IN HARMS WAY LEAVE HIM ALONE JHORE YOU'VE KILLED ENOUGH MEN YOU WILL NOT HARM MY WAR HERO STAY AWAY FROM MY DISABLED FAMILY YOUR SOUL SHALL BE SWALLOWED UP BY THE LION OF JUDEA HAILE SELASSIE THE LION SHALL PUR AT MY FEET JUST HE DID THAT BEAUTIFUL DAY YOUR RASTA ANDREW PERISHED AT MY FEET I WATCHED THE LION OF JUDEA SWALLOW HIS SOUL AS HE TRIED TO CRAWL SLIDING LIKE SERPENT COVERED IN BLOOD THAT'S WHEN THE GUNMAN SAW HIS SOUL SCREAM HE JUMPED FROM THE TRUCK AND PUT FOUR MORE SLUGS IN HIS BACK HIS SHOE SHOT OFF HIS FEET NOW I SHOOT YOUR SOUL HAILE SELASSIE RASTAFARIAN LION OF JUDEA DON'T YOU EVER CROSS MY PATH AGAIN
“EARS OF FURY #2”
this Monday will be a year
that I’ve known her.
ironically, it is the exact
time it all fell apart. I met
her when she had an in-
credible hunger for sex and
attention. any fool who’s
come to live enough of life
would know, they usually go
together. the year has been
long and often, full of
fight. the abundance of
lessons was there but she was
just too foolish to take the
gifts. she once told me, she
hated her mother for every-
thing she had put her
through. she said her mother
always put men ahead of her.
she said she felt abandoned
and worthless. she continued
to tell me that it was as if
sex was more important.
she added how much she hated
being alone because of it.
her mother would throw them
to babysitter after baby-
sitter, all to avoid being
bothered by her children. she
said she swore years ago,
that she’d never be like her
mother. I’ve babysat her kids
so she could satisfy her
hunger. she found a married
man for some sex and now he
is getting a divorce from his
wife.
she has convinced herself
that she is in love with him
and he feels the same. she’s
paid attention to only his
daughter while alienating her
oldest and leaving her with a
babysitter. now, at the end
of it all, she is quitting
school, leaving her apartment
and moving. meanwhile, his
***** and their kids are
getting pushed to the side.
isn’t it funny? she tried to
be everything her mother
wasn’t but whores will be
whores. there’s no end to the
hunger they lick their lips
for every night. a year
later, I know the same whore,
the hunger for sex is
stronger than it has ever
been. the need for attention
has come at the cost of her
children. she swore she would
never be like her mother, I
can only hope her hand wasn’t
on the Bible.
By: Chicano Eddie
7-30-2016