In My Place

Musings.

[inmeumlocum]

Mom Chop

Splash splash

Scrub scrub

Snip snip

Spritz spritz

Just like that

I am myself

Once again

[inmeumlocum]

Airplanes

I’ve found a slice of heaven

In the shade of a turquoise umbrella

We each hold a popsicle

Your crayon-thin fingers gripping mine

Eyes looking to the smoke-smeared sky

For flight paths to elsewhere

For wings that withstand great force

For engine roars that rattle the ribcage

You reach for my hand

As the distant rumble draws closer

My life’s honor, tucked in your grasp

[inmeumlocum]

Hi Morning

Oh, to be witnessing

Another new petal unfurling

As you turn in to the sunshine

Stretching wider than before

Reaching higher than ever

Growing day by day

You unveil who you will become

Poco a poco

Your soul’s harmony a little more complete

Blossoming next to my own

[inmeumlocum]

Big Pool

With each

Kick of your legs

Stretch of your arms

Bubbles from your lips

Float on your back

You become

A littler stronger

A littler braver

A little girl

And you need me

A little less

[inmeumlocum]

A Soft Place to Land

When I am in the red

My breath feeling like an N95 mask

A sheen, a drip, more water

Slow, but ready for renewal

Vulnerable, but lifting the veil

This is me at my most judgmental

The mirrors encircling me are masters of comparison

Stealing my contentment and joy

The self-love isn’t showing itself

I search for it with every rep

But then you wrap your whole self around me

And these rolls that wave down my abdomen

Give you such comfort and safety

That I am suddenly grateful for this weight

Because of it I carry the whole world that is you

[inmeumlocum]

Driftwood

Breeze cycles off the Sound

A cool mask across my face

Eskimos are flying overhead

Ocean cartwheels onto the rocks

Morning sun, a blanket across my back

I bask it in all

Warmth whisks away the damp

But soon lines begin to show

Then cracks

Deep crevices

A gorge

Rings tell of the years

But the heat tells of the scorching

Again and again and again

[inmeumlocum]

Still

My heart relays

What my mind won’t admit

I still love you

[inmeumlocum]

Raspberry Beret

When I sing you your name

It’s like

Heaven drapes itself across your face

Expression blossoming

Such joy, such wonder

Incredulous love

All yours, all mine

I could bask in this miracle

With you

Forever

[inmeumlocum]

Red Alert

It feels like

A gaping hole in your chest

Where anxiety drifts out like smoke

Stay busy, keep busy

Distractions put the panic on ice

Tears that won’t come

When you want the relief

When you want to feel lighter

When shelter in place means

Isolate from it all

You can’t be hurt by anyone

When you’re all alone

[lyouve]

Books are so cool because there are no fucking ads in them

[inmeumlocum]

The Right Pace

Though the world says

I should speed up

My daughter reminds me

To slow down.

[inmeumlocum]

“Me”

Reconnecting with yourself

Feels like

Having coffee with an old friend

Flipping through the pages of your favorite book

Closing your eyes as the sunshine greets your face

Eating a home cooked meal made just for you

Rocking your sleepy child against your chest

[inmeumlocum]

4th Weekend of the Month

My body tenses

In red alert

The moment

You leave my arms.

These next

36 hours

Can’t pass

Fast enough.

[inmeumlocum]

Ducky

There aren’t enough words

For when I see your arm

Around my childhood stuffed animal

Wrapped tightly as you dream

[inmeumlocum]

Sweetness Incarnate

1:19 a.m.

Suitcase wheels on hardwood floor

Size 5 shoes rest on the couch

The eleventh and twelfth steps up creak

As I step lightly to your room

Soft breaths in, then out

You stretch your right hand forward

As you dream

I drape the blanket across your back

Tucking you in again to rest

My reason for everything

[inmeumlocum]

This Little Piggy Stayed Home

My daughter’s hand grips my pointer finger

Close to her face, her heart

Fast asleep, drawing in croupy gasps.

I am bent over the side of her crib

Undoubtedly belonging to her

And I’ll never be the one to let go first.

When she does, she stretches out her arms

Reaching for the soft billowing of her dreams

And scrunches back into herself.

I fold up this moment delicately

And tuck it inside my chest,

Close to my heart, to stay warm.

[inmeumlocum]

Croup

Fever 103.4

Toss and turn

Strained breaths

Like through a straw

Shivers

Lower back rubs

Sleepless together

Never a more

Helpless

Feeling than this

That I can’t take

It all away