Tonight
I take the last bag of candy
from the pharmacy shelf
colored red and pink
and wrapped separately
so my son can sign his name
with his novice four letters
24 times
because that’s me, always
on the cusp of something
and breathless about
gettingdone.
If I planned properly,
I could make sugar dough
rolled thin enough
to use the heart-shaped cookie cutter
and together we could frost
two dozen for his class,
pink frosting
and each wrapped
in red cellophane,
but that’s what
the other mothers do,
not me. I am the mother
who notices,
when he signs his name
his hands are small squares
like yours, and when he kisses
his thanks on my cheek
he uses a mouth
shaped like mine,
thin-lipped and forever smiling
and I remember
how we made him
and that
is why I choose a card
large as a poster
and some chocolate,
to place on the checkout counter
next to that almost-too-late candy.
Susan Daniels Poetry 
I love it and yea I’m screaming lol
😉 shame on me, I am the one who always forgets to buy Valentine’s gifts for my guy. But I did write the man in my life this poem, so that (hopefully) counts for something, LOL.
Yikes. Who buys red candy on the 14th? Maybe me. Thanks for the reminder. And for the lovely poem. You write so I feel like I’m standing inside your heart. This is a very nice one.
Alice, thanks so much! I tried to make this sound rushed and offhand, but sincere. I hope it worked.
This worked in exactly those ways. It made me wonder how you managed to dash this off while in the check out line buying last minute candy.I could see you there, typing in your secret debit card PIN with one hand and scribbling poetry with the other. Amazing Superhero Wonder Poet.
Alice–I love you! That is basically just about how it happened, although I wrote it in the car on the way home 😉
ha haa I love this comment. I can picture Susan doing that too.
😉 close to it!
Oh Susan this is so good. The last stanza is a stunner 🙂 You remembered to buy some gifts. I did not buy him any. I wouldn’t know what to choose and my hubby is not a card person. (sigh) At least some chocolate for the kids. 🙂 And now I’m off to bed to create that magic 🙂
Oh, C, that’s what we all want on 2/14. Forget the candy and cards–go get that man 😉
wonderful ~ too funny as well !
Thank you, Deb! Happy Valentine’s day.
That is how you role, and that is good.
Thanks, Nelle. It really and truly is me–everything done at breakneck speed and kissing the deadline.