For Raven (born 10-8-02) Nathan (born 11-06-02) and Zoë (born 6-18-03)
 
Between these lines is a poem
The words are, by turns, wise, foolish and always beautiful.
They are the instructions you need
To live this life.
 
Between these lines is a poem.
It describes your first memories:
The sound of branches groaning in the wind,
The smell of  your father’s shoes,
How tears tasted.  And snot.
 
Between these lines is a poem.
It is a story of tragedy,
Of hilarity, the telling of your first kiss,
Your first betrayal, the first time
You felt different.  And why.
 
Between these lines is a poem.
It contains the first dream you thought worth writing down,
The first verse you committed to memory,
A list of the lies you told to get out of trouble.
It explains what animal you chose
For a totem and how it chose you.
 
Between these lines is a poem.
It relates how your parents failed you
And why it never mattered.
It lists all  your teachers, beginning
With the one you could not charm who taught you the most.
It names the birds at your grandmother’s feeder
And describes the sound of your grandfather’s snoring.
It counts the times you were forgiven
For ignorance, malice and sheer stupidity.
 
Between these lines is a poem.
It lists the countries you visited and underlines
The ones you went back to see again and again.
It names the friends you had and kept.  First names and last.
It names the trees that surrounded your house.
It numbers the times you wished you could touch
Your mother’s cheek one more time.
 
Between these lines is a poem.
It describes the smell of your child’s hair,
How her hand felt in yours when you slept in the same bed,
And the first sentence he uttered about the moon.
It numbers the times you wished you could still
Hold her in your lap or caress his hair without rejection.
 
Between these lines is a poem.
It is at times comical, at times confusing,
But it is yours.
I started it for you.  Now it’s your turn.
 
Love, Nani / Great-Aunt Rebecca