Friday 15 May 2009

An age


My son has a marvelous habit of telling

 

strangers that this very day is his birthday

and they, confused, can’t fathom the truth

 

but trust his nodding smile, congratulate

the rascal on reaching a mighty fine age

although sometimes they do seem surprised by the notion

 

that a boy so strange and acting childlike

could be ‘eighteen!’ but if you reckon

that every day is a birthday, he’s actually

at an age over six thousand and five hundred;

 

older than anyone else on the planet

(that is, according to conventional wisdom).

So he had a chat with Socrates,

shared a drink with an under-aged Jesus,

bounced in a chariot with Boedacia

 

and learnt his marvelous habits from Merlin;

like telling stories, beading the eye,

smiling, messing. challenging, pushing,

being himself, parading the fool

and testing whether magic is happening:

my son has a marvelous habit of telling.

37 comments:

  1. Wonderful poem John. Your son sounds like an old soul indeed :)

    My own son turns 10 years old (conventionally speaking!) in a few months. That last stanza made my eyes water.

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  2. Really enjoyable. I enjoy your mature balance and comfort and hope to achieve the same someday.

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  3. A wordsmith...poetry in the "now". Will enjoy following.

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  4. I'm going to tell someone it is my birthday today.

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  5. wonderful poem indeed. Simple in form and words but buried underneath is profound wisdom!

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  6. That's brilliant! Big hugs for you and your son!

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  7. Very beautiful! I love the way your poems meander and float... :-)
    Happy BeEarthday! To your and your son, ageless souls we are.

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  8. Oh, I adore this one. The combination of observation, proud parent and awe... of observation and being a proud parent.

    (And if I show up as a bunch of numbers as I often do on my blogspot comments, this is Julie Jordan Scott, I follow you on Twitter. *smile*)

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  9. He has been catapulted into another dimension, again. You definitely manage to graze some profound depths in your poems, deeper than I can fathom but I can enjoy them. I always gain something thru your poems. I'll need to read this again, so tired. LOVE this one

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  10. Very profound loved your poem in fact will have to back and read it again. Happy birthday to your son again!!!

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  11. I like this, it has that magic & awe, found in some if Brian Patten's poetry, peaking out from the corners of your daily lifes. It's that romance with the nuances of your day.
    Parrish.
    Ps. Did I say I liked this.

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  12. Brilliant poem John, I never cease to be awed by the imagery you generate through words!

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  13. Yes BRILLIANT the love shines in the light.

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  14. Enjoyed, words are for sharing for sure. Keep it up. It also helps to reflect. Thanks John

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  15. A very enjoyable poem indeed!! Love shines through!!

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  16. As always i deeply enjoy your potry and how ypu constantly portray your sons peculier lovely habits that make him so unique

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  17. sounds like he has an amazing talent for tales.That is a great talent to have.

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  18. Happy love poem to your son xxxooop

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  19. Awesome my friend. Awesome. Just jumps off the screen.

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  20. Beautiful poem! Thanks for sharing it.

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  21. Great read and concept! Enjoyed it very much.

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  22. Please tell him I wish him a happy birthday on everyone of his birthdays. I hope they are many, often, and joyous.

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  23. Beautiful, some young people have this peculiar way of telling us that they have been here before. ;-)

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  24. Happy Birthday to your son. Enjoyed your poem

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  25. Your love shines thru...xo

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  26. Beautiful. This puts me in mindof Arnold Mindel's classic 'City Shaddows' in which he shows how those seen as outside the norm bring knowledge and understanding the civic authorities!

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  27. I like this poem; the inventiveness...and more...your everlasting love for your son .~ jackie ~ 1emeraldcity.wordpress.com

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  28. That is a cute poem! One of my most favorite subjects to write about is the quirkiness of kids.

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  29. My son will be eighteen this year too. He is a fragile, delicate physical being in body with a headstrong, creative and brave, brave soul within. By the time he reaches his eighteenth birthday at the end of the year she will be my daughter. My love has never and will never waiver, but my heart is getting bigger.

    Thank you for sharing your special child, I see mine in him every poem you write.

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  30. I like the way the ending comes full circle around and it makes me smile :)

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  31. What an imagery portrayed ... Love this...

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