A to Z Challenge – D is for Dirty Fingerprints
April 4, 2015 at 12:01 am | Posted in A-Z Blogging Challenge 2015, Poetry | 15 CommentsTags: grandchildren, memories
I wrote this poem just after having my first grandchild visit from interstate.
Exactly a year ago they came to visit;
Their first interstate foray since his birth.
He was almost two years old,
Bright, active and adventurous,
Yet somehow shy and tentative
In this unfamiliar place.
We walked by the lake and he laughed
As the wind took his breath away.
He loved the boats on the water,
And saw where a generator spun in the wind.
“Umm!” he demanded. “More ummm!”
But there were no others to find.
He played happily with borrowed toys,
And slept peacefully in a borrowed cot,
Getting to know us a little more –
His Grandma and Opa.
A joy and a pleasure to have him –
However long or short the time.
It was only after they’d gone that we saw them.
Four or five, on the big glass door,
Where he’d leaned as he looked outside.
Handprints, tiny and perfectly formed,
Brought Aidan back to us in memory –
Our beautiful, bright-eyed grandson.
It was a long time before that glass door
Saw a cleaning cloth!
(c) Linda Visman
15 Comments »
RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI
Leave a Reply
Blog at WordPress.com.
Entries and comments feeds.
Beautiful post Linda. I remember when our sons came to visit us from London and after they had left to go back again, there would be all sorts of traces of them left behind in the rooms they occupied. Always found it so sad.
Comment by Don— April 4, 2015 #
It certainly is sad when they leave. I think it is the poignancy of their left-behind signs that moves us – a mixture of happiness at the memory and sadness that they are no longer there. 🙂
Comment by Linda Visman - wangiwriter— April 4, 2015 #
I found this very moving, Linda. At this moment can hear my grandson waking in the next room and I see him at least once every week. I enjoy watching him grow and change so really feel for those separated from their grandchildren by distance or circumstances.
Comment by lindamaycurry— April 4, 2015 #
How fortunate you are, Linda! All seven (soon to be eight) of my own grandchildren, and all four of my husband’s live at a distance, and it can be months between seeing them. So much changes in a child when they are babies!
Comment by Linda Visman - wangiwriter— April 4, 2015 #
I never had any children of my own, but I can certainly relate to your words. Beautifully written, Linda. 🙂
Comment by Lavinia Ross— April 4, 2015 #
There are others that you miss in the same way, Lavinia, I’m sure. Thank you for your kind words. 🙂
Comment by Linda Visman - wangiwriter— April 4, 2015 #
I can relate to this, Linda. As Don mentioned it is so sad and heartbreaking to live so far away from our grandchildren.
Comment by QueasyPeasy— April 4, 2015 #
Yes, with your little one also far away, you know what it’s like too. Hope he is well and happy. 🙂
Comment by Linda Visman - wangiwriter— April 4, 2015 #
Wow! Wonderfully written memory! Well said!
Comment by rogershipp— April 5, 2015 #
Thanks Roger!
Comment by Linda Visman - wangiwriter— April 5, 2015 #
This brought tears to my eyes, Linda, and I don’t even have a grandchild. Perhaps I’m hopelessly sentimental, but I don’t think so. It was the felicity of your images. Lovely.
Comment by josna— April 5, 2015 #
Thank you so much Josna! It brought tears to mine as well. 🙂
Comment by Linda Visman - wangiwriter— April 5, 2015 #
Grrr, wordpress won’t take my password. Let’s try this again.
I’m dropping by from the A to Z Challenge. I’m just a few listings above yours on the participant list. Aren’t grandchildren the best! We have two, girls ages 7 and 9. They stay with us for a month every summer. When they leave I also find things left behind. I sold my car a few months ago and when I cleaned it out I found a small stuffed animal jammed in the ashtray in the back seat. We rarely use the back seat and no one smokes so it could have been there for years. It is hard when they don’t live close, isn’t it?
Comment by Jann Rayner Tresham— April 5, 2015 #
Ah, Jann, how fortunate you are to have them for a whole month!! And what a lovely find too. 🙂
Yes, it can be very hard when they live so far away.
Thanks for visiting – the A-Z Challenge is great, and I will check in on your blog soon. 🙂
Comment by Linda Visman - wangiwriter— April 5, 2015 #
[…] D is for Dirty Fingerprints […]
Pingback by A to Z Challenge 2015 – Reflection | Wangiwriter's Blog— May 5, 2015 #