National Day on Writing

October 20th is the National Day on Writing.  I just submitted my entry to the gallery for one of the colleges where I teach.  It is a poem I wrote when my son was two years old.

Twenty-Six Months

Man-child

with your mosquito bites and bruises

and crew cut

Long limbs folded around Big Bird

Eyelashes

curled against cheeks

That aren’t as chubby as they used to be

Still you want me to lie down with you

An ally in your fight against sleep

But I am your ally in a different way

Fighting my own war against your charms

As you wriggle and giggle and tell me

that you love me

How I cherish every kiss

Every affectionate butt of your head

Every “Night-night Mosah!”

Until you finally succumb

Will you still like me this much

When you are older?

I doubt it

So for now let me soak in the feeling of your body

Curled against mine

The weight of your cheek

On my cheek

The sweaty warmth of your head

Jammed under my chin

Fighting my own war

Against your charms