Cocoon to Nest to World
Empty, Weeping Cocoon
Written May 6, 2003
Hollowed and void
Ripped up and torn apart
Insides turned out
My body cries —
Bleeding; Crying
One soul of two meshed
has been cut loose
One life had left me
to start life
on the outside
The water drained
The cord — our bond
already cut
The placenta — old form
of survival
already discarded
My stomach-like the
life of a balloon
already deflated
The secret is unleashed —
Now, I must share
my miracle
with the world
No longer am I
able to cradle
such a magnificent
creature within me —
physically
Emotionally vulnerable
to the dice his life
will throw us
My body weeps,
but I am renewed
by the love for my
beautiful baby.
Emptying the Nest
Written November 6, 2020
The nest has not been destroyed
It’s still standing
Being improved and re-built every day
But you are the part that is different
My son, my only male child
You are readying your wings
Flight plan is being designed
And I stand back
Look at you and behold what my part is
Am I the wind?
Buoying your take to the skies.
Or the blood in your veins?
Flowing to muscles and vital organs within you.
Am I the oxygen in your lungs?
Maintaining respiratory system operations.
Am I the earth?
Keeping you connected and grounding you.
Am I the brain?
Sending ideas and thoughts on how to help to those who need it.
Or the heart?
Pumping blood and life, pushing out love for humanity.
What is this nest without you in it?
Grappling with the space you’re soon to leave,
with the part of me that is you no longer in close proximity,
with the part of me that is you roaming the world
outside the confines of the nest and the life you helped build.
How did we get to this time?
Chubby cheeks and baby fat long abandoned,
when you were small and wanted to snuggle gone,
when the bicycle was the only thing you were interested in driving.
A man molded and bursting forth before me and
ready to build your own nest.
When you soar, do not forget where you came from and
what I taught you.
When you fall, know I am here and know you got this.
Wind, blood, oxygen, earth, brain, or heart — we are a part of each other
and connected.
I will support you and am proud of the man you are becoming.
