Luca, for Light
Two years ago this night
Three of us, your mother, your father
And I (chosen- what gift to be there!)
The clock having been watched
The careful minutes logged
Excitement mounting, yes, surely
This is it?
Rode in a taxi- five children he’d fathered
The driver, garrulous, an expert on our subject
Then up in the lift to a room with a view
As dusk began to creep
And sunset tinged the pier
Stark beauty in silhouette
Your father- soon to be/ impatient to be-
Took photographs for souvenirs
Not knowing yet that ever afterwards
At setting of sun on Brighton beach
He, like me, would live again
That moment, you coming,
Painfully on your way
All of us now intent in the room
Watching and listening
The struggle heroic, brutal
Your mother assailed, overwhelmed
Besieged on all sides
Tsunami of pain now flowing, crescendo,
Now ebbing, too soon again rising, ever again
Beyond what is reasonable, bearable, surely too much?
Could not, would not, should not be borne
Two of us helpless, willing you on
Till moment of climax (building to this)
The joy, the relief, and bliss of it all
Your sweet self delivered, and landed ashore
For three of us there, in shock and in awe
Lightning bolt smitten as love fell to earth
First of your subjects, yours to command
Lord of our hearts from moment of birth
I think we had dreamed you, Luca for light
Special delivery, two years ago, this night
Two years ago this night
Three of us, your mother, your father
And I (chosen- what gift to be there!)
The clock having been watched
The careful minutes logged
Excitement mounting, yes, surely
This is it?
Rode in a taxi- five children he’d fathered
The driver, garrulous, an expert on our subject
Then up in the lift to a room with a view
As dusk began to creep
And sunset tinged the pier
Stark beauty in silhouette
Your father- soon to be/ impatient to be-
Took photographs for souvenirs
Not knowing yet that ever afterwards
At setting of sun on Brighton beach
He, like me, would live again
That moment, you coming,
Painfully on your way
All of us now intent in the room
Watching and listening
The struggle heroic, brutal
Your mother assailed, overwhelmed
Besieged on all sides
Tsunami of pain now flowing, crescendo,
Now ebbing, too soon again rising, ever again
Beyond what is reasonable, bearable, surely too much?
Could not, would not, should not be borne
Two of us helpless, willing you on
Till moment of climax (building to this)
The joy, the relief, and bliss of it all
Your sweet self delivered, and landed ashore
For three of us there, in shock and in awe
Lightning bolt smitten as love fell to earth
First of your subjects, yours to command
Lord of our hearts from moment of birth
I think we had dreamed you, Luca for light
Special delivery, two years ago, this night
4th September 2009, Hounoux and Brighton, for Luca
Beautiful!
ReplyDeletePam says- she's sitting by my side:
ReplyDeleteLovely poem, really lovely. It will be interesting to see how he reacts when he is old enough to understand this poem for himself.
Thank you. We've just taken part in a lovely celebration of Luca's 2nd birthday and I couldn't help but think back to that amazing experience.
ReplyDeleteThis is lovely Sally as I read your poem it was so nice to experience a celebration of his birth this way. What time was he born? I love the image of the pier at sunset as a connection(as you know I'm into those!). I had a feeling a poem might appear after this weekend but of course had no idea of what might come to you. What a lovely Mummy/Granny gift.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jude. I actually wrote this poem whilst on the way to Brighton for the birthday celebration, because I found myself thinking so much about the night he was born. He arrived around 10.45 p.m. I do indeed remember about you and sunsets, and your feeling of connection with others. Jay and I kept saying 'oh look at the wonderful sunset over the pier' but Rose could not have been less impressed!
ReplyDeleteSally, I really enjoyed this - even the pain descriptions - and I do love that photograph. Is that your daughter with Luca? You have produced a handsome family, haven't you?
ReplyDelete