for my children; and, of course, their father
You are from seminars and barbecues,
from Espresso Royale, and the number four
with pastrami at Amer’s;
From Tivo and cat toys,
from the basement of the Frieze Building
and the steps of Lane Hall.
You are from Packard Street and Madison Ave.,
from Kalamazoo and Lake Forest,
from Iowa, New Jersey, Illinois, and Pennsylvania.
From Florida and Cambridge.
And London. And Taiwan. And Sydney.
From city and country, from east coast and midwest.
You are from 9/11 and 12/6 and 8/26,
from bagels and Barron’s,
from Jimmy and Great Big Sea;
From “the least stupid thing” and
“all according to the plan,”
and from “only family in the picture.”
You are from “we do” and “wedding weather,”
and an arch of purple flowers
where a house now stands;
From lake effect snow and small claims court,
from spreadsheets and Amtrak and ORD-DCA,
from empty rooms and a long-awaited thesis defense.
You are from three years of waiting,
from three babies gone before they were babies,
until, finally, you were.
So many things you won’t – you can’t – remember,
but most of all, know that you are from “love you”
and “love you” and “love you” and “LYC”
poem (c) 2016 D. Ohlandt
please only reprint in entirety and with credit given
#40for40