Nobody Cried Today

And now for something completely different. I haven't written a poem in 40 years, but this idea had to be expressed as a poem. I reached out for some editing help from my friend Nancy Lubarsky--a real poet. Her encouragement has empowered me to publish it here. I let this lay fallow for a couple of months, but there is another nascent poem rattling around in my head, so I had to clear the decks.

Inspired, of course, by my children and grandchildren.

Nobody Cried Today

The kids are in bed

Lunches made

Tomorrow’s presentation done

I sit with a glass of wine

Nobody cried today

It was off to work and school

Soccer, karate, homework, piano

Bumps, bruises, frustration

Siblings vex, bedevil and shout, but

Nobody cried today

No ball of tears

Curled up in my lap.

No stroking hair as I

Whisper “it will be OK.” Because

Nobody cried today

It is only one day

But something has changed

Parenting continues

It’s somehow different as I consider

Nobody cried today