Jabari Walks

SOLC DAY 12

An ode to Jabari our seventh grandson

Midwinter born

Swaddled in muslin

Tiny head cocooned like a gumnut;

We strolled the streets of Maylands,

Braved icy winds

Under vivid blue winter skies

Mostly home before you cried, fussed

Or fidgeted your crimped hands

Out of your animal patterned wrap.

Now you sing your praise

Of midsummer warmth

Da-da-da-ma-ma-ma!

Stretch out chubby fingers

As we stroll past hedges

Of fragrant rosemary

And flame red bougainvillea;

Sucking your favourite plastic keys

Or spinning the bead filled turtle.

Oh Jabari, nine months already

Of love-filled walks

Watching you thrill

Seeing you grow

Day by day.

Month after month.

Jabari means ‘brave’ in Swahili – his dad is from Kenya.

GRATITUDE DAY 12

I am grateful to be so close to a grandchild this time round which means I get to see him almost daily and he recognises me (I have a flashback memory of another grandson whom I met up with briefly once in Malaysia, while I was teaching overseas, He his behind his mum’s legs and exclaimed, ‘Mum, who IS that??’)!!