FOR MY SON: LIFE MOVES ON

Photograph by AudreyLynne Waldbaum Castiglione

LIFE MOVES ON

For Matthew

By Michelle Longo-Bloom
2007

Years ago when my son was two,
I watched him ride the carousel.
I watched him ride the helicopter,

the airplane, and then the train.

I watched him eat an ice-cream cone
and wiped his chin when it dripped down
covered in sprinkles of blue and red;
how I wish I took a picture instead.

Oh, how fast the time went by
and what I’d give for another try.
There are things I didn’t say and do,
what I’d give for that day with you:
a day just like that very one.
Now growing fast and on the run…
but life moves on; what’s done is done.

Some time ago he turned four at last
I watched him picnic on the grass.
I watched him lay a blanket down
and in circles he ran around and around.
It must have been three dozen times,
he circled that blanket then fell to the ground.
He ate from his basket of treats; so fine
his candies of every sort and kind.
And then I watched him laugh so dear;
his smile spread from ear to ear.
I made him eat something healthy
and suddenly, his smile bare;
his laughter gone; no more to hear.
Oh, how I wish I left him alone.
I wish I wasn’t caught up in the fear.
Oh, how I wish I let him laugh.
I wish I let him be so dear.
I wish I didn’t interfere.

Oh, how fast the time went by
and what I’d give for another try.
There are things I didn’t say and do,
what I’d give for that day with you:
a day just like that very one.
Now growing fast and on the run…
but life moves on; what’s done is done.

It seems like yesterday when my son was six
on a breezy day with dark clouds amidst.
Way beneath the dark cloud beds,
he was running through the sprinkler heads.
Laughing hysterically, and “oh so cute!”…
a fact I simply can’t refute.
Dashing back and forth he’d go,
over and over, fifty times in a row.
Each time I’d follow with a towel to wrap him
so afraid that he’d catch a cough or cold.
Now how I wish I threw that towel in
and ran along side him getting wet.
I was just too afraid he’d catch a cold.
How wrong I was, you can bet
because now at thirteen, he’s just a little too old.

Oh, how fast the time went by
and what I’d give for another try.
There are things I didn’t say and do,
what I’d give for that day with you:
a day just like that very one.
A pre-teen now and on the run…
but life moves on and what’s done is done.

I love you Matthew, you are my life!!!
~Mom~

 

This is where Matthew picnicked on the grass that day.

Photographs by Michelle Longo-Bloom

     

Photograph by

AudreyLynne Waldbaum Castiglione