I am finishing up a week of babysitting for two of my grandchildren this week. One of them, June, I kept during the day because daycare was closed. The other, Thomas, I kept after his day camp because his mother had a work trip.
This morning when I was dropping Thomas off for the last time, we had a talk about missing people we love. He started the conversation with “I miss my dad,” which could be viewed as a manipulative ploy for attention, but I didn’t take the bait. I said how much I would be missing him when I go back home.
He said, “Do you miss Papére?”
“Of course, I do. I miss Papére and Albért when I’m here with you, but I miss you and June when I’m home.”
Loving means you’re always missing someone. A conversation with a 5 year old brought me to tears.
This month I have been writing a poem each day using Georgia Heard’s May calendar. The prompt for today was “your favorite kind of silence.” The shadorma form fit nicely with the syllable count of 3, 5, 3, 3, 7, 5.
My Favorite Kind of Silence
Silence comes
after summer rain
before birds
recall sun
after a sung lullaby
a sleepy child’s sigh
Margaret Simon, draft
Reflections on the Teche 
I think some of my most favorite conversations have been with children, especially my grandchildren. You’ve captured a special moment in your poem – that silence when the rain has stopped, before the birds return. Lovely.
Just beautiful — both your conversation with Thomas and your heartfelt poem.
Margaret, silence after the rain is a quiet, solemn time. Your poem shares this feeling.Happy Soon to Be Retirement!
Absolutely adorable! I love the photo too. So sweet.
Oh, my goodness…your grandchildren are such wise little ones. I love that you get to be one of their teachers the way that you do. You all are making great memories.
Love this, especially the final two lines and that lovely alliteration. Love the pic of Thomas at the window. The grands movie night at school was cancelled by last night’s tornado watch & we delayed our planned trip waiting for the storm to pass (but they still had swim team)!
“Loving means you’re always missing someone.” – Yes, it does. Glad you had some special time caring for and having important conversations with your wee ones. Grandparenting is such an adventure! Wishing you calm and satisfaction in your transition to retirement; I’m sure you’ll be inspired to embrace wondrous new chapters.
Sweet little Thomas inspired such lovely thoughts and such a lovely poem.
I am happy for you that you had a lot of precious time with your grandchildren. They are so sweet. I love your beautiful poem, especially those last two lines. Great /s/ consonance sounds.
Lovely, Margaret – that’s exactly how I feel after singing to my little granddaughter and settling her down in her crib.
You captured such lovely sounds in your sensitive poem, and the use of after, before, and after pulls us gently in. Thanks for this lovely, calming and richly woven poem— love the pic too, it captures that sense of yearning!