a reverso poem
At sixteen months
you walk through the house
on the very tips of your toes
while we marvel.
Baby Ballerina, we call you.
Our beautiful en pointe
barefoot ballerina.
Your Franna was a toe walker, too.
Your Franna was a toe walker, too,
barefoot ballerina.
Our beautiful en pointe
Baby Ballerina, we call you
while we marvel.
On the very tips of your toes,
you walk through the house
at sixteen months.
My beautiful granddaughter Micah…all that toe walking makes a little body tired.
Funny how I hear my father’s voice calling across the decades:
“Put your heel down when you walk!”
❤
*******
with thanks to Two Writing Teachers for the Slice of Life Story Challenge every day in the month of March.
lit bits and pieces 
Poems with structure are difficult to write, and this one is beautiful. I have a feeling you’ll be writing about Micah a lot this month. Someday, they’ll be fun entries to come back to and share with her. The love around her — the generations of love captured with your line about your father’s voice– shines through.
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Fran, those pictures of your sweet en pointe toe walking ballerina are pedestrian-ly precious! How in the world did you capture those photographic angles? She is adorable, and she breaks all the notions about toe walkers in that she looks like she is on a mission – like she is determined to get somewhere and do something. Grandparents just know and see the common links between generations – your own toe walking and your father’s voice illustrate the leaves and branches and the roots of the family tree so beautifully here. You are blessed.
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Those photos are stills from short videos I took, trying to capture how amazingly tiptoe she walks. It’s an almost birdlike gait; fascinating balance. She’s a marvel every single minute. My husband and I plan our days around when we can see her and her sister again. -Oh yeah, and their parents (LOL).
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Love the poetry! Thank you! Nice to see your words this morning
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She’s WALKING! Beautiful barefoot ballerina! Micah and Franna – what a special pair! May you have many joyful walks together on your toes!
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Walking, running, trying to dance and sing…she’s a daily wonder and joy. Pure awe.
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I love how you made two walking look as if it was the most delicate and magnificent walking experience. I always marvel at the miracle of learning such a complex process and the many, many ways our little miracles develop their individual style and pattern to walking and talking. The name, Tiny Ballerina” brings this experience seem like the wonderful journey it is.
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Those early steps are so precious to tuck into memory. Here are memories on top of memories…
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Oh, Fran. I LOVED tip-toeing my way through this post. And the answer is yes. YES, I will save this link and use this poem as a mentor text for my own loveys as they explore the craft of reverso poetry. Thank you for this. =))
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You must let me know how the reverso writing goes, Lainie!
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So precious. Your words describe the wonder and excitement that pulls us forward onto our toes in anticipation of where the next step will lead. Sixteen months has always been by favorite baby age but it goes so fast. Enjoy!
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Oh, Fran, this poem needs to be printed and gifted to your precious toe walker. How I love that this challenge forces us to notice the details that might otherwise escape our eyes. I agree that 16 months is a sublime time for the littles.
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The Challenge does make us notice more – and enables us to spark ideas in each other. Today I wrote about crows because you wondered what my take might be – and I thank you!
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Our little Ollie is almost 20 months and we’re all loving his snuggles, knowing they probably won’t last much longer. He can say Grandma now and tomorrow I’m planning to record it. It makes my heart happy.
How lovingly you captured this precious phase in your reverso poem. And of course, I love that you hear your father’s voice from across the decades..
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I cannot wait for Micah to say “Franna”! I am living for it!
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Fran, you wrote another beautiful poem and it is honoring Micah. Perhaps, she will grow into a ballerina. Enjoy her growing years. I am having such fun with the grandgirls and a third one is coming in June.
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