APPLE-TEMPTING NEW:
A TASTY TRIBUTE TO NEW LIFE
By
Jackie O’Donnell
For my parents and all who dare to embark on parenthood. And for Brian, who is our miracle child in so many ways.
Visit the author, sample her writing, and read her daily blog at https://www.JackieODonnell.net and . https://www.smthingscount.com.
Other works by this author:
Paperback: Small Things Count—Simple Ways to Live Christ’s Love Each Day
(Order at www.SmThingsCount.com).
Small Things Count: Simple Ways to Live Christ’s Love Each Day (e-book version)
Small Ways to Shape the World (free)
Green Riches: Help the Earth & Your Budget (free)
Surviving Your Child’s First Year: A Guide for the Extra-Challenged Parent
God Sneezed
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
1 -- A Doctor’s Smile
2 -- Prenatal Lesson
3 -- Navel Assault
4 -- To One Not Yet Born
5 -- Bonding
6 -- Original Grace
7 -- First Tear
8 -- Not Tonight
9 -- Meeting Grandma
10 -- .My Fairy Friend
11 -- Daddy Express
12 -- Jungle Animal
13 --.First Birthday
14 -- First Steps
15 -- Shoes
16 --.Kamikaze Snowflakes
17 --Parades
18 --.My Grandpa Wears a Halo
19 -- Hiccup!
20 --.Visit to Santa
21 -- The Real Truth about the Real World
INTRODUCTION
Babies don’t come with instruction manuals. That’s a good thing. Otherwise, new parents would treat the life entrusted to them with too much seriousness, to the unfortunate point of missing the joys and learning experiences both they and their little bundle are stumbling into. Sadly, they would fail to recognize that everything they’ve grown to take for granted is, once again, totally apple-tempting NEW.
What happens to us parents, though, starts long before the actual birth-day. Our bodies and moods change (yes, even Dad’s). We learn new things about ourselves and our emotions. That’s why this book begins early, when that little seed of potential settles into our bodies and begins to change our lives.
You are invited to look at the world in a different way, through a brand-new person’s eyes. Sometimes that person is the baby; sometimes it’s the new parents trying to cope with the little creature and the delight/dismay/confusion/ joy that tiny individual brings.
These verses are offered for your enjoyment, whether you’re a mom or dad, grandma or grandpa, doting aunt or uncle. Those of us who are older, having lived through this strange experience of anticipating and loving a little person, can look back with tears of joy, triumph, nostalgia, and, yes, maybe a smidgen of relief that it’s behind us.
Would I want to go through it again? Of course! I admit to my desire for my son, who is responsible for the contents of this book, to find a loving wife and start a family. When that happens, and I see their joyful perplexity, I look forward to reliving his first bites of life, and probably encouraging even bigger mouthfuls.
* * * * * * * * *
The Doctor Smiled
Today is the day your doctor smiled--
The first time in sixteen long weeks.
“We think the immediate danger has passed,"
He said in his medical-speak.
So dour-eyed and melancholy was he,
So cautious in that sterile chrome room.
It was hard for me, not yet feeling you move,
To banish that gray, bog-like gloom.
His smile melted down the painfully cold eyes
That always demanded I cope,
Turning the hardness that centered my being
Into hope, magical HOPE!
* * * * * * * * *
Prenatal Lesson
Mommy and Daddy went off to school
To learn to have a baby.
After each and every class
We'd sigh and say, "Well, maybe...."
We thought we knew how to lie down
And breathe, but I beg your pardon:
We found ourselves (deservingly so)
Back in kindergarten.
The exercises they had me do,
Coach Daddy by my side,
Flexed each muscle, toning it well,
And made me think it died.
They showed us films meant to inform,
Though parts were not easy to take;
They told us about the choices we had.
Again we began to quake.
Two months later it was all worthwhile:
We'd had our little baby.
Thank God nine months ago we'd loved
Instead of saying, "Well, maybe....”
* * * * * * * * *
Navel Assault
It was there yesterday, I think.
Today, though, the swirling abyss
Can't hold one fibril of lint.
I can trace its outline
With a curious finger
Skating across the taut mountain
That serves as your home.
But I liked my navel--
For flirting above a swimsuit,
Refining my too-much-waste line,
Attracting Daddy's playfulness.
You just wait. Ha!
When you explore your body
And giggle in discovery,
I'll fill yours with Jello!
* * * * * * * * *
To One Not Yet Born: Daddy Loves You
Daddy loves you, Little One.
He strokes you, smiles proudly at you, kisses you,
Patiently waiting to hold you.
He swears you talk to him frequently,
Asking for ice cream, kicking in Morse Code,
Returning his whispered good-night.
You two have An Understanding,
A love-bond of which I can not/should not be a part,
One that you two will nurture.
* * * * * * * * *
Bonding
When you first tasted air and cried rage into the world,
I slept.
Three slumbering days created strangers of us
Who were once one.
We met. We searched each other's eyes for signs
Of recognition.
Days drifted. Your pink warmth filled my arms,
But not my heart.
Fists clenched tight, you reached for me with parched lips
To fill yourself,
I thought with food, but found you wanted all,
All of me.
After, we shared the closeness of bodies, but not
Of souls.
One night the freeway of babies carried them clatteringly
Past my door.
No one stopped. No one stopped. No one stopped
For me.
Fiery tears burned my eyes, fueled by the acid emptiness
That ate at my being.
Then you were at my breast, and my tears flowed easily,
Like my kisses.
We fed each other, recreating our blessed oneness,
Now and forever.
* * * * * * * * *
Original Grace
Tiny body wriggles toward the warmth
Of mother-scent.
Gleaming eyes wonder at, grapple with
Slippery sunbeams.
Thirsty ears drink in soft ticking
From. . . .somewhere.
Crinkled nose draws in the crimson
Of the freshly picked rose.
Playful tongue samples the breath
Of the quiet breeze.
Everything is so apple-tempting new!
* * * * * * * * *
First Tear
Your cuddle-me-cry grew louder,
Intensified with urgency.
And in each eye a droplet--
A tiny, glistening molecule
Whose waves rushed over me,
Dragging me over fire coral
Until I bled.
* * * * * * * * *
Not Tonight
Once upon an evening dreary, while we rubbed our eyes so bleary,
After dreaming luscious dreams and feeling stolen-slumber's bite--
Came a sighing and a crying from the room where he was lying
Like some saddened angels Why-ing, flying through the darkened night.
"He'll calm down," we muttered, " and soon be sleeping through the night."
Whispered Baby, "Not tonight!"
Up and in our robes we got us, anticipating more intense fuss,
Gently to him we were singing, gentler still his body swinging--
We tried pacing, bouncing, twirling, rocking, waltzing left and right--
For we'd read the Parents' Handbooks and knew that we were right.
Teased the Baby, "Not tonight."
We changed sentries every hour, and our bodies lost their power.
Drained, exhausted, spent, we knew no soul who cared about our plight--
We sent prayers to One above him, we kept thinking, Yes, we love him--
Kept our thoughts from mayhem, murder--waiting for the coming light.
Three, then four, then five and six--finally came the morning light.
Yawned the Baby, "Goodnight."
* * * * * * * * *
Meeting Grandma
Smiling her leprechaun smile,
Eyes, like hers, spilled life-joy.
Last son of first son
And tiny matriarch
Canceled time
With soft, snuggling cheeks.
* * * * * * * * *
My Fairy Friend
There's a fairy on my shoulder
I talk to as I swing.
She taught me lots of little songs
We both love to sing.
We sing about the happy times,
Like Daddy holding me;
And snuggling close to Mommy
When it's time for me to eat;
And Grandpa playing "Piggy"
On my little toes;
And sunnyuptious summers
With me not wearing clothes;
And swinging near a fire
That's crackly-orange and warm,
While listening to the rumble-clack
Of my first electric storm.
And holding onto Doggie,
Although it's no great use.
I giggle as her bushy tail
Finally wags her loose.
We sing about our happiness
And joys without an end,
'Specially about our friendship,
Me and my fairy friend.
* * * * * * * * *
Daddy Express
Daddy Express carries me
To all the places I want to be.
Oooo-oooo!
Into the kitchen to get a quick snack,
Back to my play yard, clackety-clack.
Oooo-oooo!
Off to the garden, pick out a rose,
Bring it to Mommy and see how she glows.
Oooo-oooo!
Chirp at the bird who sings in his cage.
All through the house goes my narrow gage.
Oooo-oooo!
Huffing and puffing on an extra long run,
He's the neatest engine under the sun!
* * * * * * * * *
Jungle Animal
Silently, stealthily, he creeps.
Furtive glances assure invisibility.
Closer, past the haven of the chair,
Closer, past the nakedness of the table,
Into the waiting, shadowed corner.
Stretching, reaching, fingers almost there...
Betrayed! By an errant giggle:
Bubbles bursting in a tightened throat.
He blinks, stares widely at the figure,
Then turns to lunge one last time.
Contact! Just as Mother pulls him away.
But he clutches his trophy--a large, moist,
Green leaf.
* * * * * * * * *
First Birthday
Where were all the cries of helpless need?
Where the hungry clinging to my breast?
The curious inchworm wriggling on the floor?
The floppy puppet, worked by unskilled hands?
Replaced by waving "I'll do it!" arms;
Feeding now on the fruit of life itself;
Standing tall to face a brand new world;
Marching proudly to his own tambourine.
I missed that child whose stay here was so brief.
I yielded as sadness emptied out my heart
With thoughts of first smile, first tear, first pain,
First shoes--even first sleepless night.
Then came first birthday, an equal first.
Now we watch the hummingbird together
And exchange tight, spontaneous hugs
As we share a new-renewed experience.
We both have changed before each other's eyes
Into stronger separates of a closer We.
Our life expands, enriches as we grow
And face the wonder of the coming years.
* * * * * * * * *
First Steps
Nothing's sacred, nothing's safe!
What happened to that helpless waif?
Hide the dog to save his tail;
Search the ruins for important mail;
Find another place for books;
Hang all plants from ceiling hooks;
Close the door behind you fast;
Store the lamps you want to last;
Let those tattered curtains stay;
Put the phone cord far away;
Turn the furniture upside down;
Ship poor Grandma out of town.
There's no more time for idle talk,
Because the baby's learned to walk.
* * * * * * * * *
Shoes
They say I have to have 'em
To keep me safe from harm,
Make me grow up tall and straight,
Like some lucky charm.
Since then I feel so shut up
And, though you won't believe,
I have some trouble walking 'cuz
My toes and feet can't breathe.
They yell at me through canvas,
Beg to me through ties:
"Free us from these hot, dark caves!"
Can't you hear their cries?
Grandma calls 'em 'portant things
That I should wear, not lose.
But I wish they never 'vented
An unfun thing like shoes!
* * * * * * * * *
Kamikaze Snowflakes (First Snowfall)
Kamikaze snowflakes dive at His head,
Plummet his face until squadrons are dead.
Reconnaissance-swirls his arms cache disclose--
Targets for mindfully
dive-bombing foes.
Hands at his jacket-front muster and vault
And fight to prevent a fierce navel assault.
Barely-clad thighs and cold knees, be still;
Accept that the god-wind has karma to fill.
Only a shin and a toe have been spared
From the melting nirvana these brothers have shared.
Honor and glory they never can lose,
With their watery life-force spread thin on his shoes.
* * * * * * * * *
Parades
Clashing, clanging, marching, tramping,
Tooting horns and thumping drums;
Feathers, sequins, velvet trimmings;
Cherry ice on thirsty tongues.
Cowgirls ride on prancing horses;
Batons are thrown high in the sky;
Acrobats twist, turn, and leap;
The clown trips on his own bow tie.
Kids with candy-covered faces
Shout for joy and clap their hands
As their happy, tingling feet
March in time with all the bands.
How the colors catch us spellbound!
How the music makes us dance!
All those memories that we cherish