On My Son's Eighteenth

 

Well you want to say
      don't

drive
drink
skate
grow up
move away

But at eighteen

things are out of my control
spinning

so
have a good birthday
son



What is it to be a man?

licenses
responsibilities
jobs
direction
shedding shedding tears
soldiering
protecting
sports
girls

condoms
it's a lot of things
that this momma forgot
to tell you about

 
 My Son

Eighteen years ago
my water broke in a bathroom shower
But you weren't ready quite yet
The next day you were delivered from distress
Like Caesar the doctor said umbilical cord wrapped
Around your neck
Around and around
Depriving you of oxygen
I watched the heart rate monitor go to nothing in contractions.


When we came home
This luv of a baby kept
My mom and I suspended in time
With his two sisters he had four women
For years that were even willing
To speak for him
We were the masters of interpreting
the Lucster.

Luca threw the ball against the wall
Catching it in his glove
From 9 months on
Right over my head on the couch
A hardball!
A master of physical nuances
Cracked a baby tooth throwing his head forward once
I cried all night over that
Ate a Christmas bulb
On the worst day of my life

Played Tball and hockey,
Football, baseball,  coached by his dad
Skated, rollerbladed, knocked
Around oblivious to injury
Making baskets
Gathering friends
The boy he was, that held my hand
quietly through cancer

We went to Angel's games
Celebrated champions
Lost gracefully
Ate our cookies, made our art
Enjoyed our holidays,
loved doughnuts,
Honeybuns and sausages.

Wore the Green Bay jersey
Until it fell from his shoulders
Brett Farve disintegrating
From daily use,
Briefly sported Harry Potter glasses
Laughed with Pepe
Acted in plays
The biggest baddest sweetest wolf in town


Called poppa Black Pete
The Principal Pirate and cried
To a kinder class that Daddy was
Drinking beer in Red Ribbon Week
And his parents were doomed
Because you felt it so strongly
Missing that this was
not intended for a Dad downing
one a month.

If there is a silent observer
In the universe of stars
It sees you treat your grandmother
With a love
That sustained her
And recorded in the book
Of life your love of family.

Your art soared and your skills
Like your Mom's were a gift,
a surprise.
That ability to do something
Before you realize you can't.
 It's wonderful-
You are wonderful.
The combination of two
People that love you dearly.

And always will.

 


Line drives
Ukeleles
Calm
Angular

Vernacular
Elan vitale
Roaming
Night owl
Observer
Nice

Pugnacious
Upper deck
Guitar
Lean
Inscrutable
Skateboarder
In-between

Luca Vernon
at eighteen




You've taught me about vulnerability,
You've taught me about competition,
You've instructed me in patience
Shared your fears.

You've taught me about breaking down a task,
You've taught me about losing
You've instructed me in family
Shouldered my burdens.

You've taught me a few tricks,
You've demonstrated moves for me,
Instructing me in fine points
Polishing my understandings.





Sons

Was it just me
Or do our sons
Remind us
to feel
the importance
of friendships,
praise,
actions
words,
and the
incredible
power
we have
in relationship
one
to
another?



May this day bring you the gift
Of time and the journey
May the day be bright, forward looking
Filled with promise
May your day be greener
Sweeter, more delightful
as we celebrate your
Eighteenth journey around our sun.



Poems by his momma, Sarah