with thanks to Susan Ahlbrand who honored today’s date (2-22-22) by inviting participants to write palindrome poems on Ethical ELA’s Open Write.
Yesterday was a day off for my district. My son brought my little four-month-old granddaughter over for a visit. I wanted to write about these sweet, sweet moments…
Moments with Micah
I would make time stand still
to savor you more
to marvel at the miracle
of your existence
(your dad says
he still can’t believe
you are real).
Every day
you are changing
growing in size
knowing in your eyes
so wonderfully made
rose-satin skin
tiny sweet hands
gripping
my heart.
My heart
gripping
tiny sweet hands
rose-satin skin
so wonderfully made
knowing in your eyes
growing in size—
you are changing
every day.
You are real.
He still can’t believe,
your dad says
of your existence.
To marvel at the miracle
to savor you more
I would make time stand still.
with thanks also to the weekly Slice of Life Story Challenge writing community; writers need places to call home.
lit bits and pieces 
This is absolutely amazing! 🙂
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Thank you ❤
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The craft of this poem is something to analyze, but the topic! And the love! It all comes through in the form and the content, Fran.
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Thank you, Melanie!
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It’s hard enough to merge emotion and meaning, but to do it with craft and symmetry is mind-blowing to me. I love the central line, “You are real.” It’s the perfect core, a statement to affirm what Dad is almost afraid to believe. Lucky Micah to be the inspiration of this. Maybe he’ll read this on 3-4-43. Will he be 22?
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Yes, Micah will be 22 in 2043 (this is mind-blowing!). My son – my oldest – is so in awe of her and proud of her. He will text: “I still can’t believe she is real.” She looks much like him and his brother when they were babies. How time passes-!! Thanks so much for your words about the poem.
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Fran, again, each time I read this poem it amazes me at the creativity and talent of your craft! Those little satin rose skin touches are the best. She is precious and so is this poem you have written on this very special palindromic day!
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Thank you so much, Kim – there is nothing in the world as lovely as baby skin! Micah’s just started taking bottles so I got to feed her for the first time. She put her tiny, tiny hands on mine as I held it. SO SO PRECIOUS. Beyond words. I so appreciate yours! ❤
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Best reverso ever! Full of love for your granddaughter as well as amazing craft. I have yet to conquer this form.
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Thanks so much, Margaret. Micah was so content and sweet – I wanted to hold onto the moments as long as possible. When the form was presented, it somehow seemed right for this purpose. Composing it felt somewhat like composing a pantoum, being strategic with the lines.
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Beautiful poem, beautiful thoughts, and beautiful granddaughter!
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Thank you! ❤
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Absolutely lovely, Fran. Sweet little Micah is getting so much bigger. Grandmother time is sp precious. What a beautiful format you chose for the poem. I loved how you crafted your poem.
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She’s really growing, Carol! As you know, the moments are incredibly precious. I so appreciate your thoughts about the poem – thank you.
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Love, love, love every bit of it especially the picture!
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Thank you, Kathleen ❤
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I love this poem! It’s similar to the reverso poem, but this one seems to take even more craft to try and pull off.
As for the way you pulled this off…all I have to say is, behold the power of a stanza break. WOW! Suffice it to say I’ll be using this post as a mentor text.
My favorite lines? The hands gripping your heart, your heart gripping those hands. And the line you have on its own: “You are real.” Breathtaking.
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Many thanks, Lainie. Delighted for you to use the pome as a mentor text. This form is fun to play with. I’d wanted to capture these moments with little Micah (too precious for words, honestly) and the form seemed to fit. Micah has only recently gone on bottles so this was the first time I’d been able to feed her. She held onto my hands with her tiny, tiny ones as I held the bottle – so so so so sweet. I may work this image into something else, as I tried to work it in here and at the last it became tiny hands gripping my heart vs. my hands. Because maybe that is truer!
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Tiny hands, big hearts…there’s so very much to work with. You’re right – these are images that lend themselves to a WHOLE host of expression.
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So beautiful! Your poetic response to being with your granddaughter is amazingly crafted, carrying the deep love and wonder.
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Micah, sweet baby girl – girl baby sweet Micah!
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Love your palindrome reply ❤
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