The Weight of Snow

Cherry

By Silver Spun Sand

Wed, 09 Sep 2015
  • 1304 reads
6 comments
 
We started talking about nappies today;
how he’d been such a dab hand at folding them –
‘the kite’ his speciality.  Always far better
than my bungled attempts – thinking back.
 
Upstairs, asleep, our one week old child.
Downstairs – us, bewildered, bewitched,
and, yes...bothered.  Everything so new,
and yet somehow, so old; both just 19.
 
The bucket under the sink full of Napisan...
the washing machine going at full pelt; an Indesit,
one of the first ‘automatics’ there were,
and boy, wasn’t I glad of it?
 
Pegging them out to dry, bringing them in,
folding them...bringing order to chaos.  
 
Coping...almost...snowed under by it all
by the monotonous mundaneness of the way
it had to be. Putting them away...
 
shutting tight the cupboard door; as if
minutia, itself, defines the immensity 
of love.
 
 
Certificate PG
Poem
Silver Spun Sand Poems
Love
Autobiography

Comments

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

This brought back memories! My mother (recently widowed) coming awhile and calling herself 'chief cook and nappy washer'! the full buckets, and the feeling, 'I feel totally ignorant, but only I can really understand and help this child at all.'

and, yes, the busyness on small things being satisfying and bespeaking of love.
Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Hello there, Rhiannon.  Your words made me smile, so thank you for them. Glad you found this evocativesmiley

Tina

 

Submitted by VeraClark on

Nostalgic details and a lens on personal care - a minutiae that conjures up the very heart of infant  love.

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

In a nutshell, Vera.  Very many thanks.

Tina

 

Submitted by Denzella on

Hello Tina,

Loved this.  Brought back memories of my sister when she came home from hospital with her twins. 

She  didn't know she was having two until the day before they were born.  I was sent to buy another set of baby clothes etc.   On that first night home it was utter chaos.  Neither of us felt adequate to look after them properly but they survived so I guess we knew enough.

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Something I was always dreading (having twins) and secretly hoping for, each time I was expecting.  Mind you, haven't the foggiest as to how I would have coped,but as you say, if you have to, you just do.  Many thanks for sharing your experiences, and you two sounded as if you managed, admirablysmiley  

Tina