fingers and toes
Fingers and Toes
Knit within your mother’s womb,
wee bobbin of wooly yarn,
known but unknown until today,
we welcome you, sweet little bairn.
From the coziest depths near your
mother's heart forcefully propelled,
a blanket of warming arms
awaits your winsomeness unveiled.
Woven in love, by love, for love,
fearfully, wonderfully made;
in warp and weft of your fingers
and toes, a tapestry displayed.
Liz McFadzean
Photo by Jen Perez
Over the years I’ve been inspired to write a poem for each of my grandchildren. As I post this our daughter is in labor with her third boy, our fifth grandchild. You’ve read his poem. Here are the others for Campbell, Charlotte, Chloe and Warren, in that order:
Blue Daddy-eyes
What are you pondering, sweet little man,
Gazing at the world through blue Daddy-eyes?
How will you fill each rapturous day?
The earth is so splendid, so wondrous-wide.
Will you press and push on bolted-barred doors
Or scale up mammothly mountainous heights?
Will you set your ship sailing on pulsing seas
Or fly through skies full of angelic-lights?
Will you reach for what you cannot yet see
With deliberate care or reckless abandon?
Or coo-warble songs as yet without words?
The universe waits, ears-pricked for your anthem.
Your stare bores deep through unknowable comings,
To amazing enchantments designed just for you.
The weaving of miracles from time's beginning
Testifies to the hand that made you awesome, too.
That hand shaped such a cuddly countenance
For cherishing all of your years, days and weeks.
Keep seeking. You'll find Him, you beautiful boy,
With blue Daddy-eyes and sleepy-pink cheeks.
Smiles and Kisses
Which came first,
The smile or the kiss?
Philosophers through all time
Have sought to answer this.
Does she kiss me ‘cause of my
Skin so soft or eyes so blue,
Or because I smile at her,
And then I giggle, too?
Maybe I smile ‘cause of
Her lips on my cheek,
That tickle of flesh to flesh
That leaves me weak.
Does it matter what precedes which
When the result is such pleasure?
To me Lala rocks;
To her I'm a treasure.
Chloe Kathleen
Your name is Chloe Kathleen.
Pure royalty, you are the queen
Of all that is leafy and green.
You're nectarous, mouthwatering!
Your sister’s an elf and a pixie,
A sprite quite extraordinary,
But, Chloe, you've also bewitched me
With the conjuring wiles of a fairy.
So hip-hip-hooray and huzzah, dear.
Elated that you have arrived here,
We'll cradle and cuddle you so near
And love you forever, have no fear!
Song of the Owlet
(Warren’s Lullaby)
Verse: Little owlet, snuggled in your nest,
As wise as wise could ever be.
You've come to us straight from the heart of God
And made a four out of a three.
Warren dear, tiny little babe,
Your life is simple and so safe.
Unspoiled by all the things you've yet to know,
Sailing high above this world of woe
You've come and brought us so much joy,
Sweet, little baby boy.
Bridge: When a little child is born
He tunes out all the din;
He fills our hearts with love
And brings us hope again.
You’re so innocent and pure;
It won't always be that way,
And though you won't be perfect
Our love will always stay.
Verse: Lovely Warren, scrumptious little bird,
We love you more than words express.
Precious little one, we're so happy that you've come,
Our owlet, our baby, so blessed.
Liz McFadzean
