Deep Joy, Steep Challenge
Poetry By Charles C. Finn
Swimming In The Sea Of It
Adoptive parents maybe have an edge.
accept from the outset the dimension in the child of
mystery, utter and inaccessible.
heightening respect for difference,
reverence before the unknown.
Biological parents, facts of birth being known,
might assume they know their child and skim over the mystery.
Adoptive parents swim in the sea of it.
In Need Of A Little Sweetness
April suddenly hates kisses but allows an exception.
If late in the evening a butterfly happens to land softly on her cheek
around the time Daddy tucks her in,
well, you can't fault a butterfly in need of a little sweetness,
now, can you?
Adam at age 2
still is in the forest primeval
from which instead of conscious memories he'll carry
lasting impressions--
whether or not he is lovable,
his family is comforting,
the universe is trustworthy.
Day by day mason parents lay lasting foundation.
Disappearing Peas
The disappearing peas worked again tonight,
only this time it was Tylenol.
April's been running a fever, felt punky enough to go to bed early.
To help her rest easier, I went in to give her some Tylenol,
but she wanted none of it.
What she wanted was for me to leave her alone.
That's when I resorted to my old ploy.
Back when she just started eating solid foods,
we played this very fun game where Daddy lined up 5 to 10
peas in front of her,
then turned his back pondering out loud,
"Surely none of those peas is going to disappear
when I count to ten and turn around."
How pleased she was every time
at my astonishment over the peas' disappearance.
Well, sick as she was tonight,
she just couldn't let those two Tylenol sit there
while, back turned, Daddy was counting to ten.
May she be resting easier.
.
Never Childish
There's all the difference in the world to a child's ears
between shouldn't be afraid and needn't.
Shouldn't shames--
what's the matter with you, kid,
don't be so weak,
don't be such a baby.
Needn't coupled with explanation dispels darkness,
comforts with acceptance and reassurance,
doesn't demean.
Parents can't be too careful with their response
to a child's never childish fears.
I find it necessary but insufficient
to lay upon myself the prohibition not to spank.
When a parent's ego has the upper hand and a child of two defies with screaming,
hands will squeeze enough to hurt,
voice will rise enough to frighten.
Easier said than done when by stress undone
to shift to a center deeper.
Some are lured to prayer by soft desire,
some are driven.
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A boy we met in the video store must have seemed
to glance at me covetously
for Adam fairly shouted, "He's my Daddy!"
leaving the boy speechless,
his mother smiling,
Adam satisfied with his emphatic style,
and me secretly pleased to be the object of such
fierce possession.
