Knits and Purls
By Dr. Theresa Snell
For Maia
In a quiet room an old woman sits with her yarn knitting.
With the rocking of her chair her deft fingers work the pattern. Knit Knit Purl Knit Knit Purl With every stitch fell a tear Two tears of joy; one tear of loss Two of welcome; one of goodbye Knit Knit Purl Knit Knit Purl With silent steps I make my way to her side; Settle myself at her feet and wait. Knit Knit Purl Knit Knit Purl For every year I work a row, she says. Knit a stitch for every birth. With every passing form a purl. I remember everyone. |
Some years the pattern changes;
Some years the grief is long. At times it seems the purls won’t end And I remember every one. Some years the knits form freely And my tears are for the newly born. I celebrate their opened eyes And follow their years in the yarn. Every knit becomes a purl And yes, it can hurt to hold the pattern. But pain has a purpose, child. The strength of the pattern holds the world. I take a moment to understand the enormity of her work. She creates beauty in her silence; rocking gently knitting yarn. I run my fingers across the uneven rows and in its texture I meet the world Immortalized in knits and purls; Held together and remembered in rows of love. I take the needles from her hands and the tears from her eyes. For this quiet woman gently rocking I purl a stich and celebrate her smile. |
Where is the Moon? |
Sleepy Mommy, Noisy Boy
By Dr. Theresa Snell Sleepy Mommy was very tired and ready to lie down and rest. She yawned and stretched and smiled at her little one. “Now Noisy Boy, Mommy is very tired and needs a rest. Do you want to lie down with me?” “No thank you. I want to play.” “Can you play very quietly for Mommy? “I can!” replied Noisy Boy in a sweet, if very loud, voice. Sleepy Mommy nuzzled Noisy Boy. “Thank you very much. I love you.” Sleepy Mommy curled up on her bed and snuggled into her pillow. She let out a huge yawn and closed her eyes. And then she heard…a ruckus. Noisy Boy had knocked over a large tower of blocks. “Noisy Boy, Mommy is very tired and needs a rest. Do you want to lie down with me?” “No thank you. I want to play.” “Can you remember to be very quiet? “I can!” replied Noisy Boy in an even sweeter, if still loud, voice. Sleepy Mommy nuzzled Noisy Boy. “Thank you very much. I love you.” Sleepy Mommy went back to her comfy bed and her soft pillow. She let out a huge yawn and closed her eyes. And then she heard…a ruckus. Noisy Boy was banging on his little piano. Taking a deep breath Sleepy Mommy looked sternly at Noisy Boy. “Noisy Boy, Mommy is very tired and needs a rest. Do you want to lie down with me?” “No thank you. I want to play.” “Can you promised me you’ll be very quiet? “I can!” replied Noisy Boy in his sweetest, if still loud, voice yet. “Thank you very much. I love you.” Sleepy Mommy was now very very tired. She went back to her comfy bed and snuggled into her pillow. She let out a huge yawn and closed her eyes. And then she heard…a ruckus. Noisy Boy had found a toy harmonica and was blowing loud, off-key notes. Toot! This time, however, Sleepy Mommy did not move. Now this made Noisy Boy curious. He moved closer to the bed and made an even bigger ruckus. Toot! Still Sleepy Mommy did not move. Noisy Boy moved even closer. He made a HUGE RUCKUS! Toot! Toot! Still Sleepy Mommy did not move. Noisy Boy climbed on to the bed. He was nose to nose with Sleepy Mommy, waiting to see her open her eyes. While he lay there waiting, Noisy Boy’s eyes grew heavy and began to droop. He let out a huge yawn. He snuggled into Sleepy Mommy’s pillow and closed his eyes. As soon as his breathing evened Sleepy Mommy opened her eyes and smiled. Noisy Boy was fast asleep and quiet as could be. She kissed him on the forehead and settled back into her comfy bed. She rested one hand on Noisy Boy and let the other drop to her belly. She let out a huge yawn and closed her eyes. And then she felt…a ruckus. Noisy girl had woken within her and decided now was a perfect time to start kicking. |
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