Imaginings for my baby grands





 As our score of grands hits 13

I've some Omi imaginings to share

of wishes and hopings and aims

various hats I hope you all wear


before you, your parents and auntie

were children belonging to me

my baby birdies of back then 

now perch in the big bird tree


I love them with all my heart

and prouder I could not be

sometimes I confess to getting 

lost in regret and memory


regrets of all my shouldas

it's an overplayed refrain

memories of how I let 

them down and caused some pain



But my loves, that's the part of

growing old that I'm not proud

the maudlin regret refrain

We think and shouldn't say aloud


So we've all been there, the

older folks and now me

how we appreciate what we had

only when it ceases to be


But I'll be damned if I let

this devolve into melancholy

I saw too many people drown

in what is basically self-pity


Because regrets should only serve

to teach us to celebrate the day long

all our loved ones here and now

carpe diem shall be our song! 


Alas the Prophet says I can't 

visit your tomorrow house, it seems

Ancestors can't can go where you are

not even in our dreams. 


(this is the part where we cue sexy guitar riff, sip some wine and grieve a bit)


We can't rewind nor fast forward

we've neither tomorrow nor yesterday 

so let us dive in and enjoy 

this lovely present called today 


And so as they fly up to

the place we call "grownup" 

I give thanks to have you

all to overflow my cup 


My very dearest little dears 

I ain't the wisest owl on said tree

but what wisings I've got are yours

So listen up to Mama Omi 


You've all so very much muchness 

M. Rogers says, just by being you delight

You shine so brightly it hurts and

I'm happily blinded by your light


like 13 waterfalls carousing

you rain down so much joy 

to wash away our pain 

my each little girl and boy


you pour your light like water

on all the lonely people below

for those blessed in your orb

We're lucky to be in your glow


For you aren't merely uniform

you're a lovely parquetry of bits

some parts with jigsaw symmetry 

and the rogue piece that never fits  


we're none picture puzzle perfect 

And that's exactly as we should be 

my hope for you babies grand is 

you be the you-iest you you can be


For the Lord looked on, he knew

he saw that all of you is good 

That your enough is enough

your being just as you should 


for in this race we call human 

we fear failure too much I fear

but what exactly we're afraid of

is to me not entirely clear


I fear we're afraid of stumbling

but it's not a failure to fall 

the only way you can fail is

by never even trying at all


When bumps come and they will

go ahead shed tears for the pain

then adjust your bum on your bike

and soon you'll be rolling again!


And who cares if you don't make it

Omi'll always cheer you all

the only thing that'd make me sad  

is if falling kept you small 


My babies, fly your YOU flag

don't hide your light under a jar

inhabit your you fully, as gran said

tell 'em who you are! (dammit!)


I hope your reach exceeds grasp

don't settle for safe on shore 

and exceeding reach, visions 

seek and open up the door


don't let can't limit you

can't never did nothing till he tried

shatter your glass ceilings

bust the pane way open wide! 


But grandiose dreams don't mean

you must perfection sustain

some days we just survive and 

and somehow try to maintain 


I love you in dazzling red and blues

on far ups and way down days

all the sort of in betweens

when the best we got is grays. 


You don't have perpetually shine

some days you just feel dim

but Omi loves ya no less, honey

cause you're still sparkling within


May your possibilities be endless

may the choices always be yours 

and opportunities limited only by

an overabundance of doors


But don't worry if you miss one

we all do, and it's okay

if you ignore and walk on by

there will be more another day 


So let's end with rousing crescendo

a full chorus in full voice then

a song of praise for our children

we'll shout the great Amen



(I know you thought this was ending but I must make a nod to my Alaska and Lake Michigan)


May you range free where

the deer and antelope roam

May whatever place you live in

always feel like home. 



And if you need space or shelter  

you're welcome with us to take 

there will always be room for you

in the blue house by the lake. 


with love from your Omi

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