Boy

Cherry

By Bee

Fri, 09 Oct 2015
  • 3190 reads
19 comments
 

While other babies crawled,

you stood up and walked.

You sang, and talked aged sixteen months -

in beautiful tuneful sentences. 



I hugged you in my lap 

and taught you how to read with ease.

Before the age of two, you'd read a book -

Green Eggs and Ham

that Sam I am, that Sam I am...

How you loved the fun of rhyme.



You read from menus; read the news

we couldn't stop you - didn't want to

hold you back.

Puzzles, facedown on the floor -

pictures up - too easy - boring for you. 



Little sister on the breast, you glanced 

but soon lost interest - climbed the curtains 

while she fed, and laughed with glee

to watch me blue-faced scream for you 

to, 'Climb back down this instant!



With babe against my beating chest, 

I chased you breathless

round the lounge. You did your worst 

until I finally put her down,

and then we cuddled up; you read



so sweet it made me weep -

and through the night because 

you couldn't sleep -

wouldn't count those leaping sheep 

and so relieved to hear at last

your breathing deep,

I'd steal your precious books 

and gently kiss your night-flushed cheeks

for luck, and pray for normality. 



Some said it was a curse 

you read in bed, but what would you 

have done instead? And now you're grown

and far away, do you think of me, and say, 

Thanks for teaching me to read, or 

would you have learnt so anyway?



Of course you would - just as you walked, 

as you sang, just as you talked -

at the age of sixteen months -

in beautiful tuneful sentences?

Certificate U
Poem
Autobiography

Comments

Submitted by scratch on

Beautiful, almost palpable images.  Fragrance and noise in this one, Bee.

 

Submitted by Bee on

Thanks scratch, that's really nice.

Bee

Submitted by VeraClark on

Gosh, this got me in my heart. All those worries for what - ticking boxes and fitting them. ' 'night flushed cheeks' and image of you racing round peeling your advanced son off the curtains is thoroughly relatable. Very tender.

 

Submitted by Bee on

I thought you might relate to this, Vera. Glad you did - thank you. 

Bee

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Lovely memories. I don't think mine were reading, or talking quite so young, but I remember the first teacher being shocked at my tale of him having asked why the television had 'Yesterday's Summary'  on the screen for the weather forecast, when it was so wintery. And a bit annoyed that his writing wasn't up to the same standard if he could read so well! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Bee on

Impossible, when you think of it, for early readers' writing to be up to the same standard. Reading is really only language through eyes instead of ears - just needs to be let in and absorbed by the brain, whereas writing requires a different development and control. Most of my son's first teachers also, sadly lacked understanding - actually said he should be held back (doing nothing) till the others caught up, which caused him to become disruptive with a reputation for misbehavior which followed him through school. Most disappointing when he'd been such a delight, if a handful, at home.

Thanks Rhiannon. Your boy sounds amazing, and so observant - it's scary.

Bee

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Gosh, Bee...those kids of yours have a mum in a million.smiley  

I agree, so very much with what Scratch said about 'fragrance and noise'.  I could smell the baby talc and the rusks, and hear my own children screaming with glee at 'Bunnikin's Picnic Party' and  'A Cat in a Trap'.  We all have our own precious, wonderful memories, of our kids' childhoods, but few could relate them as eloquently, and emotively as you, Bee, and now, having just re-read it, I'm off to find a tissue to blow my nose and wipe away the odd tear or two.  

Tina

 

Submitted by Bee on

Thanks Tina. I felt emotional remembering and writing this one. It wasn't an easy road with him, but he was amazing, and that has too be remembered and appreciated by me - and hopefully him knowing how I felt about him - do feel. I found a box of cassette tapes I made - used to make of him reading / speaking, all labeled with dates. Made me cry. I don't think I appreciated at the time how sweet. 

Loved Bunnikins!

Bee

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

'Pray for normality', I'm with you there Bee, normality being such a privilege. Bright children, both a blessing and a curse aren't they. A delightful piece!

 

Submitted by Bee on

You are so right in what you say, Jane. And thank you for the nice words about the poem. 

Bee

Submitted by Bee on

Thank you for he cherries.

x

Bee

Submitted by jeand on

HI Bee

This is a lovely tribute to your son, and a very believable story about his early development, causing so much anxiety.  thanks for sharing it

Jean

Jean Day

Submitted by Bee on

Hi Jean. 

I've been trying to write this one for a long time, but in the end I was inspired to get on with it after reading what you wrote about your son, so thank you. It was so good to hear about your trip, too. 

Bee

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

This is a lovely recollection, Bee, and it sounds so familiar. It reminds me of the time my eldest daughther was a tiny toddler coming to me and saying "You want to read me this book" at the same time handing me 'The little red hen' or 'The magic porridge pot'. Once I read those books a few times, I would intentionally introduce some errors to test her only to be told "You read it wrong, daddy."
I thoroughly enjoyed your beautiful poem.

Luigi x

 

Submitted by Bee on

Those memories are so precious, aren't they Luigi. 

Thank you.

Bee

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Just lovely!  So hard to write about our children in the midst of it all, Standing back and seeing it all again lets us relive thos special times, you've reminded me. :)

Submitted by Bee on

Yes, much harder when you're in the middle of it. Thanks Philip. 

Bee

Submitted by london_calling79 on

The 'night flushed cheeks' got me too. That moment when they go over and you wish they were still awake despite trying to get them to sleep for the past god know how many hours! Beautiful.

 

Submitted by Bee on

Thanks LC.

Bee