On Sunday morning, I was in charge of my two grandsons, both 2 years-old, 9 months apart. We started out with a goal of walking to CeCe’s house. CeCe lives on the next block about half a mile from my house. For the first little while, the walk was adventurous. The boys walked together, but then Tuffy (Thomas, T-monster, T-bird) trailed off into a field of tall grass. I had to fetch him out and in so doing, realized he had left a prize in his diaper. We had to go back home and change him.
Back on the road, each boy carried a skeleton hand. I got these plastic skeleton salad tongs at the dollar store last year. They each had one tong, so no arguments or need for “sharing.” Every once in a while Tuffy would want Leo’s, and they would trade. When Leo discovered that banging on the gutter caused a loud percussion, the boys pounded out a rhythmic tune that echoed across the quiet stillness of Sunday morning.
Moving on, Leo saw another gutter, “Look, another one!”, but I said, “Let’s keep moving. It’s a long way to CeCe’s house.” I called CeCe, and she told me she would be going to church at 10:30. This was 9:30, so I told her we would just stop for 5 minutes. I estimated we’d get there by 10. Well, not so much.
I put Thomas in the stroller which he cried about, but once I started singing, he was OK. I was making up songs right on the spot. It went something like this, “We are marching, marching, marching to the Frankenstein.” I promised we would get to see the humongous Frankenstein statue on the next block.
I texted CeCe when we hadn’t made it to her street by 10:00. “We’ll have to see you later.” Then I ran into some friends out for a morning run. We stopped to talk. It’s funny how my toddlers were very talkative until someone asked them a question.
We finally made it to Frankenstein. I called Katherine who was just out of the shower after her run with Papère. She came with her car and picked us up or I may still be out there coaxing these boys along with a drum and a song.
Walking with a Toddler
I open my eyes to your wonder
Margaret Simon, draft triolet
as you discover everything new–
a fallen limb, a world over and under.
I open my eyes to your wonder,
reach for your hand at the sound of thunder,
follow your gaze, engage your view.
I open my eyes to your wonder
as you discover everything new.
I am joining a daily writing of gratitude poems for the month of November. Three lines a day.
Blue
#gratiku #haynaku
–your eyes
Saying “Love Mamère.”
Reflections on the Teche 
I absolutely love your line, “I open my eyes to your wonder.” Those words can be used in so many ways for many different people.
Margaret, what a realistic and beautiful slice! My hat is off to you, friend, for managing two 2 year olds. I love the thought of the skeleton tongs – one apiece to avoid any issues. That made me laugh!
Wonderful triolet, Margaret. I especially enjoyed hearing the adventure of walking with two toddlers!
Such a wonderful slice! ❤ Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
What a fabulous and courageous adventure, Margaret! I loved being a virtual part of it, chuckling at the prize in the diaper and being comforted by song. The Frankenstein was worth the trip, specially for this priceless photo. I love the lullaby rhythms of the triolet and the gratitude poem – I can just see the love in little blue eyes. I should be writing a poem of gratitude a day – there’s no end of things for which to be grateful, and you’re one of them!
I love this from start to finish–especially how your journey evolved into a wandering discovering type of journey. The pictures are priceless and your triolet was an unexpected bonus!
I am laughing because I remember walks like these from not so long ago. The half mile from daycare to home could take an hour. I’m so glad that these two get to walk with you & you with them. I love the line you repeat in the triolet & the gratiku is wonderful.
Margaret, what fun! Life is full with two two-year-olds, isn’t it? I loved reading every detail of the long walk.. Beautiful triolet in progress, and as others said, “I open my eyes to your wonder,” is a powerful line. So much to be thankful for, I’m glad you are sharing some of these sweet three-line thank yous.
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