In the week before you were born
Your old Daddy went to a shopping centre
To buy an iPod we couldn’t afford
For Mummy’s hospital room
Probably the last time I did anything without thinking about you.
Needed to get an iPod and speakers
Wanted to make Mummy happy
So I ran
Around to every store and went
Through Daddy’s important processes
Comparing specs and prices and options
Shortlisting and eating chips
Dreading the buyer’s remorse inherent in an imperfect world
Overwhelmed by marketing, technophilia and low low prices.
It felt like spring and your old Daddy was burdened
With life-altering decisions.
When you were born, we went up to Mummy’s room alone
Your new Daddy didn’t know what to do
Wanted to become familiar
So I sang
The Wheels On The Bus
Held you close to my heart
Noticed for the first time the dread feeling
Time would too soon be up
Someone would come to take you back.
On video I’m changing
Your tiny twitchy-legged nappy
Your iPod blares an unplugged About A Girl
High-fidelity background
An early one of your times up
Cool autumn sunshine pressing the new blinds
In your freshly painted room
Everything’s new
New Daddy’s finding sea legs
Chatting away to the end
Of comforting familiar.
Now, every night we tuck you in
With something quiet
To cover life outside your haven
Soul Journey has been one of yours
A lullaby the moment you got home
Daddy will always have awesome sleep-deprived memories
Sitting in the dread dead of night
Holding a sleeping baby with honour
Gillian smooth and quiet in the corner
My soundtrack bleeding into yours.
//ends
>> month of poetry 2012
1 comment:
I like this very very much. Makes the hairs on my arms stand up.
Post a Comment