I used to hold his hand – Poem by Ali Grimshaw

~ Ali Grimshaw 
Your separation started with a small knot, 
then the winding began.

Strings of storybooks, twined through nights
and days of countless fresh starts, repeating circles.

The looping of stories wound through our shared days. Up and down 
on the life school rollercoaster, back when I used to hold your hand.

Our faces in the wind a side by side scream of surprise
moments you reached out, adding to yourself
adding another layer of becoming.

While some saw mangled routes and loose ends 
I envied your brave expanding, overlapping leaps 
of curiosity to solidify your center.

Now you roll down new streets
with layers of perseverance over boyish charm
a masterpiece touching lives I will never meet.

I hope you never stop winding over that small knot,
tied while I watched.

© Ali Grimshaw 2021

This poem is dedicated to my two amazing sons. I am grateful to be your mother.

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42 thoughts on “I used to hold his hand – Poem by Ali Grimshaw”

  4. “Now you roll down new streets with layers of perseverance over boyish charm,” this is such a beautifully, beautifully composed poem, Ali! You really moved me with this one 💝💝

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    1. I so appreciate your reflection back. This one I have written and rewritten as I reflected on my motherhood journey. Thank you for appreciating it.
      Are you enjoying NaPoWriMo? Are there any sites in particular that are inspiring you?
      I always enjoy reading your poetry.
      Keep shining your light.
      Ali

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  7. I love the way you roll. You made me lonely to hold a hand and also to want to let it go. Love this: Now you roll down new streets / with layers of perseverance over boyish charm / a masterpiece touching lives I will never meet.

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    1. Colleen,
      Holding hands is such a wonderful feeling. I miss the small hands are used to hold. Thanks for taking the time to reflect back to words that spoke to you.Wishing you a beautiful day

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  9. Excellent and very touching post for this April 1st. Made me grateful for my wonderful son and daughter — and especially my first son, their brother, whom we sadly lost in his 18th year. Happy Spring, but this day be nobody’s fool Ali.

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    1. Being a mother has been the toughest and the best journey. I am so sorry to hear you lost your son at such a young age. I can’t imagine the pain of that loss.
      Thank you for reading and sharing your poems with the world.
      Ali

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  11. Oh Ali, I hope your sons will read this! What a wonderful tribute to motherhood and to them. I especially like these words:
    “adding another layer of becoming.” That’s exactly what parenting is right….nurturing, guiding, loving as we watch more and more layers of becoming in our children. And all the while, the oxymoronic task of raising and loving them to leave.
    I enjoyed this very much. Perhaps repost on Mother’s Day?

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Lillian,
      My husband sent it to both my sons without my even knowing until today. He is such a great dad.
      It is a great idea to repost for Mother’s Day. Thanks for that idea.
      I really appreciate your reflective response and all the work you put into hosting the dVerse Community site.
      It is going to be a fun month of poetry.
      Ali

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  15. A lovely poem to your sons, Ali. Are they twins? I ask because of the opening line, which is beautiful. I especially like the ‘strings of storybooks’ and ‘looping of stories’, which will stay with them all of their lives.

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    1. Thank you. Love makes the life rollercoaster worth it.
      April is NaPoWriMo. Will you be writing every day? I love participating but have never posted a poem every day.
      Wishing you a beautiful day.
      Ali

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    1. David,
      It sounds like you could relate to the wild ride of parenthood. It is so different when your kids become adults and you can look back. It is a precious wild ride.
      Thanks for sharing your thoughts here.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. Wow so good to know about the photograph taken at local park. I loved how you described the woven ball with related to your sons growing expansion – couldn’t quite give justice with words in response 🙂 Yes I am well, thank you.

        Liked by 2 people

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