Explaining grandkids to your friends
Who have none is, I find,
Like trying to describe chartreuse
To someone who is blind.
For your grandkids bring out feelings
That nobody else can match,
Laying bare an itch you never knew
You had, but now can scratch.
As a parent, you experience
The fiercest love and pride
Intertwined with the anxiety
That childhood does provide.
Though when one becomes a nana
(Or whatever term you pick),
All you’ve learned plus new beginnings
Come together with a click.
There’s a closeness through your child
But a paramount remove,
So you have a chance to bond and kvell*
With nothing left to prove.
Yet before I had my grandkids,
I would surely have dismissed
Ever needing them, but now I know
The joy I would have missed.
*to beam with pride and joy
Sunshine smiles of my inner soul
warming me in gentle, loving ways
I relish your vitamin D, Girlfriend.
Gracing my skin in a motherly way
Making me aware of my internal sisterhood connection
With my great-grandparents and my great-grandchildren
Connecting us as nothing else could.
Encouraging my cell soul connections
Feeling the Son in her warmth.
The Sun reminding me of THE Son
With an open heart and a loving mind
Affection flowing from my grateful pores,
The sight that so beautifully spends my time,
Children laughing and playing out of doors.
Here I sit soaking in adoring sun,
Children playing silly games in my drive,
Having a world of good, clean fun
Innocent hopefulness is so alive,
Loving my catbird seat, watching them play.
Dashing and darting, laughing with goodness.
Revitalizes me in every way.
Enthusiasm blatant must confess.
Nostalgia sets in, remembering my youth.
Leisurely days with my grandchildren here.
Aware suddenly I’m long in the tooth.
Urgent plea comes in from the youngest now.
Grandma, you can play! You surely know how.
Happiness Reigns, so take that Aunt Ruth!
Written January 24, 2019
Contest: Word Play Sponsor: Bobby May
The babies are so much fun,
So cuddly and warm,
So snuggly, and wonderful,
So ugly when first born.
The babies are so loved,
So cherished, so alive!
But the newborns, with their cat-cries,
Are so annoying when they cry.
Yes, I will babysit your baby.
And we can play and sing and laugh.
I will give her and him both bottles,
But if it is a newborn, I will pass.
twinkle twinkle little....
The four-year-old is silent suddenly. He gives me his most mischievous sideways smile and grin. He watches me carefully, studying my face for nuances I hope are not there.
As he looks at me, I realize once again that he is looking at me exactly the way my father used to look at me when he was hoping to get a silly reaction or a great laugh. This endears me to my grandson like nothing else could.
"NINJA!" he yells, gleefully.
He giggles at joy at my surprised reaction.
It is the twelfth time he has tricked me with these exact four words, and I get more surprised every time.
This poem is actual words
From my 3-year-old grandson, Max.
You have to say them with pure
Excitement and energy for them
To make sense.
“Bubbles are super powerful
Like people, fans, and everything!”
It was a smell I was familiar with,
His smell.
But he had been gone for almost eight years,
And I had come to terms with it.
Or so I thought
Until I smelled his smell.
Then it was a whole new ballgame.
Do not expect people to get over a death right away,
Don’t expect them to ever get over it.
When you least expect it, a smell,
A thought, a number, a trick, or
Something else will happen that
Brings it all back as if it was
Yesterday that he left.
Let the tears flow.
Your soul needs this.
He is here, loving you.
You can feel this, and
It is okay. Trust
Your feelings.
You angels are always near, to
love and protect you.
Oh, no, crumb.
It’s the adult again.
Dare I ask for a grandchild?
I don’t really want to speak to anyone else.
Would it be rude?
Who cares?
Can I please speak to Wilford?
Mom, Wilford is only 7 months old.
I know, but I want to hear that baby gurgle today.
I need it.
Oh, good grief.
We’ll Face time you in 20.
The next 19 minutes crawl by, seem more like 19 hours.
Aha!
Face time works. I get to see the baby.
If you do not have a grandchild yet, you have no idea how
Precious every second becomes after they arrive.
And I have ten of them; TEN!
My cup runneth over the kitchen table, onto the floor, and out
The door where six grandchildren are waiting with water guns
To spray grandma.
Because I squeal and shriek and jump up and down and dunk
Them into garbage cans full of water, and grandchildren love that!
G-rand someone whose old but yet young, leading the youth with wisdom;
R-ossting royal comings to be completely bald, yet teaching the truth never fail;
A-ppraisals and appearances up keep while rallying children get off the streets;
N-ews today and days to sweep, remembering history and history feats;
D-oing most things for others not selfish relentless gathering family reunions;
P-leasing all well almost all else, elder Mother, elder Father, grand...
Almost dying, yet still revealing one's self;
R-epeat turn the other chin cheek, little children, young adult in Ahh! in
shock can't speak!!
E-nter in the rustic dried out golden
N-ever say no to friend or for, always respect your elders;
T-odays the day for being golden and born
Simple said, simply heard senior minded stop the habit of disrespecting the aged;
Close your mouth open your eyes hands and heart if you wanna live long life like them you should
these are the words for the Grandparent HOOD
07/31/14
Though I can't give a full account
of all the Lord has given me,
I can say that my list begins
with life, His love, and family.
I have a daughter, son-in-law,
two grandkids, and fulfilling days.
While parents work, I'm with the kids,
a girl and boy I love to praise.
I claim this opportunity
to show them honor with an ode.
I'm gratetul to be "Mimi" now.
No sweeter name could be bestowed.
A pleasing parallel exists
in this relationship we share.
Their need for guidance every day
fulfills my need to love and care.
I'm proud to be their referee,
their teacher, cook, mentor, and friend,
a monitor of TV shows,
the one who says when play must end.
Though sometimes they get on my nerves,
they keep me sane and active too.
I thank the Lord for them each day.
Without those kids, what would I do?
March 20, 2017
placed 9th
in Jamie Pann's Feelings Contest, judged April 8, 2017
Today I did something I had never done before...
I took a good look at the face of my grandchild and yearned for more.
Fearfully and wonderfully made was that child on my arm...,
But I am fearful because I know that his enemy wants to bring him harm.
So I bless this child and pray for him every day...
Lord, keep him safe and sound as he goes out to play.
But the thing that matters is he's as healthy as can be...
These little ones are gifts from God to grandparents like you and me.
So we cherish these moments when we walk hand in hand...
And together we'll build memories as he grows from a child into a man.
TK<
Grandparent At Last
My granddaughters,
Aira'lee Nadean Jones,
Hope Faith Darnell
Adelina Gracie Darnell
11.18.2019-09.27.2020
R.I.P. "Gracie"
Grandparents old of grandparents new,
The unique joy that you are bringing true.
Fairy tale's told in the rosy past,
My first granddaughters are here at last.
Fishing trips and ice cream cones,
Lullaby songs until we doze.
Stories told upon cozy laps,
Sunny walks on shaded paths.
Butterfly kisses and big bear hugs,
Truly grandparents is another word for love.
Today you shower little faces with kisses
Piggy back rides and little messes....
Who notices???
Tomorrow you speak from your infinite wisdom
Your prayer is heard deep from within
Even though we may giggle
We love that you know and love Jesus.
You let me drive your old truck in the pasture
Laughed till you peed when the chair fell backwards
Love freely, laugh often and give generously what you have
Grandparent days are too short but cheerished!
Love those GRandparents!!
Mine are the Grandest of the grands!
***To all the Grandparents out there in the soup pool.
Looking for the formal definition, structure, and history of this poetry form? Visit the Poetry Dictionary entry below. Then return to explore how PoetrySoup members bring the form to life through their own poems.