Ode to a Boy

I have my Poetry Scribes of Spokane meeting today and our monthly assignment is to write an Ode.

"Ode: (ohd) 1. A lyric poem characterized by lofty feeling, elaborate form, and dignified or elevated style; a form of stately and elaborate lyrical verse. 2. A lyric poem usually marked by exaltation of feeling and style, varying length of line, and complexity of stanza forms. 3. A lyrical poem praising or glorifying a person, place, or thing." http://www.poems-and-quotes.com/article.html?id=609

Lately I have been falling in love all over again with my soon to be 9 year old boy Zackary. We had a date last night which included Red Robin for dinner, warm chocolate cake and ice cream for dessert (for him) and then I took him to the Y to watch him swim. We played hangman at dinner and his first phrase-challenge for me was to solve 3 words... I LOVE YOU. Without asking me to watch, he dove into the deep end of the pool and swam his fastest laps up and down the pool. At each end, sending a silent glance my way to see if perhaps I was watching him... and you bet I WAS!

Ode to a Boy...

I have fallen in love with a boy...
The day I discovered his life, I held deep inside of mine
I knew I would never again be just I.
A new part of me, would come from one
and have me be... forever ...a part of my son.

I have fallen in love with a boy...
I finally meet him face to face - I give him a name.
He seeks life from my body and receives love from my arms.
His every move, every breath is cherished and reaps awe from my soul.
I did not know how incomplete I was, until this tiny creation had completely made me whole.

I have fallen in love with a boy...
Who is beginning to have a mind of his own.
He can sense my adoration and takes liberties with my newly learned role.
I do not know the rules of this motherhood, yet want for him that which was not mine.
He reaps rewards for his strong will and my heart breaks at my weakness of holding a line.

I have fallen in love with a boy...
He is a boy now - his ways are unknown, he can no longer be cradled in my arms, or can he?
Can I? He is my boy, but he is no longer my baby.
He seems angry now, there is not enough time
or patience or understanding between his world and mine.

I have fallen in love with a boy...
I watch him - watch me.
He wants me to see him, to know him, to be proud of him, to hear him, to love him.
And I do!
O, how I have fallen in love with my boy!