126 Comments

Wonderful poem, thank you! The ending made me cry.

Children with Downs Syndrome don't speak well because they couldn't crawl, and crawling triggers speech (and math, didn't know that). So many of these kiddos now are taken for horse therapy, where they are put on the horse and walked around, because the movement of the horses' hips mimics crawling, it helps the child's speech. And just because horses are AWESOME.

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Oh man. Beautiful. This one really got me. Reminded me of my dad who passed last year. We start out crawling and one day return. (Not that you're at that point yet, hahaha!)

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Is aging also an opportunity nature gives us to be children again?

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I am almost without words to comment on this because it hits a place beyond language. Somehow once again you capture the beauty and the pain of life, our children’s aging, our own aging, the beauty of it, the pain of it, the poignancy, the devastation, the joy, Blake’s grain of sand, your small Lego.

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Nice! I too sprained my wrist badly 3 months ago and I am still not 100%. A little passed middle age - things take longer to heal. I too have been humbled and it is good becaue it makes me more empathetic to folks with disabilities that do not heal.

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Mine are too busy to even ask how my two hip replacements went. Where did I go so wrong?

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Sherman, I really appreciate that you take the time to read all your comments and answer so many. I know it must take a great deal of time and effort. You make us, your readers, feel seen. That is a connection one does not often get in "social media".

Many thanks, and heal quickly!

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Oh, man. Thank you. The combination of exquisite enjambment and meaning is so elegant. I needed this today:

"...

carpet and wall. I only saw it

because I was so close

to the floor. I only noticed

because an outside event

had altered my perceptions

of the world. That's when

I realized that we don't need

to search for ceremonies

because the ceremonies

will find us. So crawling

..."

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My 34-year-old fairly stoic son surprises me with moments of gentleness, generosity, and wisdom. Must have gotten it from his mother. ;-)

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Yes he did!

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It is beautiful.

My kid gave me money for ice cream yesterday. The sweet baby knew I was in need and used her savings to make me happy.

Lifted me up.

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Such true words!!! I am grateful to care for my grandchildren and experience those moments again. (And then send them home when I get tired(

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Love it… I’m always wishing my grown kids were little again. I want to hold and carry them.

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Beautiful. I hope you heal well and soon, Sherman. I'm glad your son is there to help you.

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It's kind of nice when you get to the point where your kids are helping you.

My youngest daughter sets up everything electronic for us. "Tech support" Another son picks out our laptops when we give me the specifications. "More tech support" I call another son, "When you have time there's some downed trees that are too big for me to tackle." He comes with his chainsaw with a 20+ bar. Another daughter stayed with me as my mother was dying, then prepared her body afterwards.

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May your ankle heal well. Each time I read your poem it moves me on deeper and deeper levels, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Pain as a touchstone. Enduring familial love.

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Sherman, I’m so sorry to hear about your injury! Isn’t it interesting how we learn from painful experiences? I wish you a speedy recovery and more poems. I’m so happy to hear that you have a son close enough to bring you ice water and maybe lift you up if you need it!

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