pulsing, blinking, breathing,
weeping ‘cause she’s teething;
sleeping, dreaming, napping,
drooling, burping, babbling,
giggling when he’s clapping;
bouncing, bobbing, crawling,
standing, stepping, falling
playing with her dollies;
dancing, wiggling, rocking,
speaking, learning, talking,
wobbling as he’s walking;
drawing, finger-painting,
block-building, running, playing,
shoe laces aren’t staying;
counting, reading, writing,
swinging, jumping, sliding,
bruising from bike-riding;
changing, developing, growing,
swimming, kicking, throwing,
always moving, going;
studying, testing, striving,
arguing, cursing, fighting,
almost ready for driving;
texting, chatting, gaming,
steering, screeching, racing,
bullying, beating, chasing;
partying, drinking, smoking,
rule-breaking and provoking,
finding herself, feeling broken;
laboring, struggling, training,
meeting, kissing, dating,
job-hunting after graduating;
working, cooking, bill-paying,
shopping, settling, vacationing,
his hair has started graying;
liking, loving, marrying,
packing, moving, travelling,
soon enough, she’ll be carrying;
craving, hurling, growing,
decorating, buying, sewing,
everyone says she’s glowing;
howling, yelling, squealing,
dilating, pushing, bleeding,
holding, mothering, feeding;
cradling, wiping, folding,
disciplining, teaching, scolding,
raising, caring, doting;
reminiscing, remembering, tiring,
babysitting, wrapping-up, retiring,
doing everything he’d been desiring;
relocating, resting, lying,
weakening, crippling, declining,
wheezing, gasping…
