My Heart's Journey Home
A pantoum about one day's journey home from work
I.
I am returning home from work.
It is a sunny March afternoon.
I am on the train to Southborough.
I put my glasses away; I look out the window.
II.
It is a sunny March afternoon.
The sun's rays illuminate the trees.
The light dances with shadows across fallen leaves.
The buds on the tips of tree branches shimmer.
III.
The sun's rays illuminate the trees.
Life approaches bright Earth from the underworld.
The buds on the tips of tree branches shimmer.
My energy is renewed.
IV.
Life approaches bright Earth from the underworld.
The blossoming of new life dances everywhere.
My energy is renewed.
I am returning home to my family.
New Life in Spring
V. Springtime
The blossoming of new life dances everywhere.
Like an ethereal band of faeries, it creeps back into the world.
I am returning home to my family.
I am going home to fly my daughter's kite with her.
VI.
Like an ethereal band of faeries, new life creeps back into the world.
The warm glow of afternoon sunshine splashes into my home through my windows.
I am home to fly my daughter's kite with her.
I have returned from a full day of work.
VII.
The warm glow of afternoon sunshine splashes into my home through my windows.
I am serenaded by the soft sound of my daughter's infectious laughter.
I have returned home from a full day of work.
Joy lights her face as she greets me with a million hugs and kisses.
VIII. Reunion
I am serenaded by the soft sound of my daughter's infectious laughter.
Her hugs and kisses say "welcome back, Mama!"
Joy lights her face as she greets me with unbridled enthusiasm.
Arriving home to my family's love is worth the day of work.
IX.
Her hugs and kisses say "welcome back, Mama!"
I kick off my shoes and slip on my slippers.
Arriving home to my family's love is with the day of work.
We sink into the couch to read a favorite book.
X.
I kick off my shoes and slip on my slippers.
I play our favorite disc of lilting Celtic music.
We sink into the couch to read a favorite book.
We enjoy a cuddle before we eat our dinner.
XI. Music
I play our favorite music disc of lilting Celtic music.
Pasta boils on the stove
We enjoy a cuddle before our dinner.
We share stories from our day after we bless our food with gratitude.
XII.
Pasta boils on the stove.
We are sleepy from our day's adventures.
We share stories from our day after we bless our food with gratitude.
After we eat, we ascend the stairs.
XIII.
We are sleepy from our day's adventures.
It is time to welcome peaceful slumber.
After we eat, we ascend the stairs.
We take our baths and crawl into bed.
XIV.
It is time to welcome peaceful slumber.
The train to Southborough and my carpool have brought me home.
We take our baths, sing lullabies, and crawl into bed.
I am back home again.
Epilogue to my Pantoum
At the end of the day, after saying bedtime prayers with my daughter and singing lullabies to her while I play my mandolin, I turn on the music CD player on her bureau to play more lullabies while I take a shower and change into my own pajamas. When I lay down to sleep, the music is usually still playing. It is as sweet and soothing to me as it is to her. I am shepherded to the Neverland of pleasant dreams almost as easily as she is. The next morning, I inevitably awaken refreshed. I look forward to spending the day with her after a day away.
© 2012 Karen A Szklany