World Poetry Day, Part 2

Since it is now officially World Poetry Day, I officially bring you Part 2 of my celebration of all things poetic. I wrote this little ditty during the year or so that Little A. and I enjoyed daily walks to a construction site. He was between ten and twenty-two months and I carried him in a back carrier most days, so I felt it every time he literally went limp with fascination. I think he had an out-of-body experience each time!

I learned a thing or two from watching trucks with my little guy!

Constructive Zen

Every day I walk:

A loaded chore

A burden, an obligation—

Exercise to me.

To my son,

It’s exaltation,

A Pilgrimmage.

His shining eyes

Miss nothing;

His chubby arm

Flies up

To point out

Each station,

Each waypoint

On our journey.

I spot our goal,

Half-dug

Retention ponds,

Mountains of

Fill dirt for sale.

He sees

Mighty metal beings

At rest.

He waits,

Content, in awe,

Until

Magically responding

To inner knowledge

(or a radio)

An engine engages.

An excavator lowers

Its hydraulic neck.

Opening its maw,

It scoops

Hovering, waiting, until,

Comparatively frisky,

A dump truck

Darts around,

Backing up.

One slow-motion

Scoop at a time,

Its belly fills.

I must help

My son—

Limp, immersed,

He forgets how

To wave

When the driver beeps hello.

Another truckload gone,

Another bulldozer full arrives.

I see no difference

In the pile

But it has

Changed.

2/6/2009