Parenthood – Galen Skye

Poem – 2021 – He brought me a cup of water

By galenskye | July 14, 2021 | Comments 0 Comment

He brought me a cup of water.
It was wet, dripping slightly
Due to a stumble or two when he
Had climbed up two flights of stairs.

A cup of water, unasked for, yet given
Because I had developed a headache
And needed to rest on the bed for a moment.
A sweet, caring gesture from my wonderful child.

A cup of water.
A gift so much beyond what it seemed.
The gift of knowing that my child
Loves so strongly with his kind, caring soul.

He brought me a cup of water
And brightened my world
With it. And then a kiss and
A smile full of love and a hug—

As full as the Cup was when he first filled it–
completed the remedy.

G. S. Skye 2021

Poem – Patio (Draft) by Galen Skye

By galenskye | June 10, 2020 | Comments 0 Comment

Patio

You build it together.
A new outdoor space for
Entertaining, play and peace.
You build it with sweat, aching backs
Even a little bit of blood and a few
Tears of Frustration.

When it is done, though, there is
Accomplishment,
Satisfaction,
and Exhaustion.
But that is not even the beginning.
As it turns out, you created so much more.

It is an oasis on a troubled day.
A fortress, ready with turrets and
A lookout post.
It is a spacecraft, hovering over
Strange people and worlds.
It is no longer a layer of bricks.
It is a time machine taking you to
Fascinating places filled with
Adventures just waiting to be explored.

This place, this simple patio, becomes
Solace and hope during a complicated time.
And as the smile on your son’s face brightens
With imagination, it lights up your world.

Then, when the storms roll in and
We scramble to put things away, and
The wind kicks up,
A patio it becomes again,
Until another day, when imagination reigns and
The possibilities take flight.

G. S. Skye

9 June 2020 (Draft)

In and Out, a poem (draft) by Galen Skye

Poem – In and Out

By galenskye | May 14, 2020 | Comments 0 Comment

In and out…

Your soft breath tickles my faces
As I lay here listening.
Each quiet breath a joy
In its simple necessity,
Just laying here in the dark.
In and out,
And with each breath
The love in my heart expands.
I lay here and marvel in it,
Take solace in it–
Find peace.
And you, my sweet boy,
All warm with sleep,
Just breathe.

GSS May 2020 – Draft

Draft (2019) – I am not ready

By galenskye | November 14, 2019 | Comments 0 Comment

I am not ready.

Today when my child came home from school I turned off the TV and
The unending reports of scared children after yet another shooting.
He curled up on my lap and didn’t notice the sudden lack of news.
Instead, he hugged me tight and told me of his day.

He hugged me tight, not knowing how much I needed
His small yet strong little arms wrapped up in mine
His wonderful, animated face full of love and excitement.
He talked of future days in school
And I grasped that thread of hope and clung to it;
I clung so tight that I hugged him again and thought not for the
First time—

I am not ready.

I am not prepared to talk to this precious child
About the realities of life.
I am not yet able to formulate the words that
Someday will fray the edges of the safe blanket
He has wrapped around him, that school is safe.
School should be safe, dammit.
It should be a place where children can learn and grow and
Take flight with learning and imagination.
School should be safe.

I am not ready.
So I hugged him back.

14 November 2019

Draft (2019) – Snuggles on a Saturday

By galenskye | November 2, 2019 | Comments 0 Comment

Snuggles on a Saturday morning are the best.
Warm, sweet child molded into my side,
A contented smile on his face
As we watch a favorite movie
And I drink my tea.
The occasional hug,
The cheerful laugh,
And mischievous grin
As slowly, ever so slowly he shifts
Watching me closely from beneath his fringe.
Wow! Such cold feet!

2 Nov 2019

Galen Skye - Poetry - Snuggles on a Saturday

Draft (2019) – Trick or Treat

By galenskye | November 1, 2019 | Comments 0 Comment

Winter is early this year.
The wet, cold snow blows
Fiercely as we wander from
House to house—
Weather only curbs our urchins.
Their quest for joy fulfilled.
Yet, as the slush streaks sideways in
Strong winds that could lift
An Umbrella and whisk us away,
They laugh and vie for the next piece.
Until we near the house…
Suddenly the promise of warmth,
Hot chocolate, cupcakes and toys
Appeals more.
Trick or treat?!

1 Nov 2019

Poem (draft) – I really thought I wouldn’t say that.

By galenskye | October 10, 2019 | Comments 0 Comment

I really thought I wouldn’t say that.
The catch phrase of this and that
The common tropes of parenthood-
All those things our parents said
Seemed so far off from who I thought
That I would become.

It’s Generational, I thought.
It wasn’t going to me
Who would reutter those phrases.
I wasn’t just meant to be
That “kind” of parent.

My grandma laughed and ran her hand across my hair.
“It’s okay sweetie, someday you’ll understand.
Someday you’ll recognize the truth.”
That it isn’t just generational.
It’s all generations

We all thought it
And found when our time came
We’re surprised and somewhat,
I find, comforted, because
Yes, you really will find yourself saying “that”.

10 October 2019

The Playground (Draft)

By galenskye | April 6, 2019 | Comments 0 Comment

It’s a strange terrible world
Where the kids on the playground
Warn each other to be wary,
To hesitate
To not talk to you while your child is playing.

These children, still in single digits
Should not be so afraid of people on the playground
Should not worry so much
Or hesitate.

Our children should not need to be wary because my skin is a different color,
Because my hair is wrapped in a turban
Because you just can’t trust anyone anymore.

We’ve created a world where the instincts if children
Have been rendered inadequate
Have been considered less than necessary
Have been set aside because you might be wrong.

You might make a mistake.

I dread the day when my child
Learns that he has to be more careful
That he is privileged because his more colorful heritage is masked
By the Nordic looks he inherited from his father.

That, because we have raised him to be
Compassionate and Kind
Fair and Just
Above all else, based on who someone is…
I fear that he will find a day when
He has to defend that which he accepts unconditionally.

Friendship

Loyalty

Honor above all

Justice.

And yet, I see hope as he plays with others, bright charming smile
And the kids play with him.
And maybe, this world of hesitation and fear can heal.

Maybe, it all really does start on the Playground

6th March, 2019

Spin, Spin, Spin! (2017)

By galenskye | March 20, 2017 | Comments 0 Comment

Oh to be three and full of such joy.
I watch my son and see the gears in his brain
Spin, and spin and spin!
Thoughts colliding just as he stubbles over a toy,
(or several, we never get them put away for long.)
I glance away for but a moment and he has
Markers in his hands now.
Spin, spin, spin!
Arms out, the tops of the markers undone. “Look at me,” he demands.
And I admit, I had been paying more attention to my book,
So I do. Calmly we turn the markers to a more useful purpose.
It pacifies him for a while, maybe 10 minutes at best,
And then off he goes again!
The sun is out! Spin, spin, spin!
Catching the dust in the rays of light, he turns to me,
“Outside?”
Eyes so bright, and dimmed for only a moment
When I remind him how cold it is outside.
Spin. He hugs my leg and then dances away.
SPIN. He giggles and hides behind a chair.
And out again he comes, moments later to share his joy!
A fish cracker (only a few days old, I’m sure. Still good!)
Spin, Spin, Spin!
Flops in the floor at my feet, hands raised toward me with such glee.
“Mommy!”
The smile ingites the room and my world in that moment it perfect.
So I stand up,
And we Spin!

Sway with me – 2005

By Galen Skye | June 12, 2014 | Comments 0 Comment

Sway with me. Watch and see.
A puppet without strings.
Feel the trance. Take this chance.
Revel in these things.
You, here in this darkness, my soul desires
Fall into me, find the spark, all that it inspires
Each breath, your voice in the air, your song rises
Continue, I pray, lest hope within us dies
Sway with me. In darkness see
The blinding light of love.
Come and hear that soft whisper
Of promise on the wings of a dove.
Texture drapes, notes fall in, escalation builds.
Follow me, your soul is free, to this you must yield.
The art within, imagination pure, ignites a single match.
Burn for me, a deep blue flame, and wait for it to catch.
Sway with me, grace and free
Let the ebb tide flow.
Come along, feel our song
Dance with the one you know.

Category: Parenthood