This is a teachable moment, I thought, chatting with my younger daughter after returning from an event I was almost too tired to attend. “Half of life is just showing up,” I told her, “Especially when you don’t feel like it. I had great conversations with x, y, and z, you remember x, y, and z?, we talked about…”
I noticed mid-stream that she was petting the dog, totally tuned out, and it occurred to me – Half of life is just shutting up, too. Oh dear, not my strong suit.
Bacon wasn’t actually supposed to be back until September, but I came across a poem that I simply must share Right Now. It’s in the most wonderful collection, Good Poems, Selected and Introduced by Garrison Keillor (2003). I’ve been dipping in and out of this collection all summer, a summer in which I’ve been helping the older daughter get ready to leave for college. She’s gone now – and sometimes a poem helps.
A Little Tooth
by Thomas Lux
Your baby grows a tooth, then two,
and four, and five, then she wants some meat
directly from the bone. It’s all
over: she’ll learn some words, she’ll fall
in love with cretins, dolts, a sweet
talker on his way to jail. And you,
your wife, get old, flyblown, and rue
nothing. You did, you loved, your feet
are sore. It’s dusk. Your daughter’s tall.
* * *
I’m not the sort of person to rue nothing. But – one can think – I’ve tried.
* * *
Cartoon copyright here.
August 28, 2017 at 5:44 am
Thank you for that nugget, Jennifer. Now, I will shut up, if I can!
August 28, 2017 at 12:55 pm
Laughing! Don’t ever, Ridley! xo
August 28, 2017 at 6:38 am
Love this. Thank you Jennifer.
August 28, 2017 at 12:56 pm
I’m so glad – xo!
August 28, 2017 at 8:27 am
So true. Life brings many renewals.
August 28, 2017 at 12:56 pm
Thank you, Anne – xo
August 28, 2017 at 9:40 am
I have missed Bacon! Love this new post! The poem sums up the speed of life!
August 28, 2017 at 12:57 pm
Thanks, Mom! I thought so too, xo
August 28, 2017 at 11:18 am
Just. Yes.
August 28, 2017 at 12:57 pm
xo
August 28, 2017 at 11:34 am
Thanks, Jennifer! Billy Collins says “Poetry makes you slow down, and take notice.” Maybe it can also quiet us! It is good to hear from Bacon again…
August 28, 2017 at 12:58 pm
What a great quote from Billy Collins! And I’m so happy to hear from you at Bacon today, Todd! xo
August 28, 2017 at 12:18 pm
Oh, Jennifer! Thanks for the reminder of how very often “a poem helps.”
August 28, 2017 at 12:59 pm
xo dear Joelle
August 28, 2017 at 12:40 pm
I needed this today!! Thank you, Jennifer and I hope you are doing well after your college launch 🙂
August 28, 2017 at 1:03 pm
The journey can be so exhilirating and exhausting, right? I’m glad this reached you today. And thank you so much for being in touch. xo
August 29, 2017 at 10:09 pm
Bacon better stay chatty and poppin’ in the skillet! Showing up and listening matter! ❤️❤️❤️
August 31, 2017 at 10:22 pm
Thank you always for your encouragement, Lyn! You’re an inspiration, always. xo