Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Poetry Thursday - "Dialogue Poetry"



This week at Poetry Thursday we were challenged to write a poem that is driven by dialogue between the speaker and another who may or may not be real.

I decided to use a grandma story that happened recently with TK. This happened to his other grandparent's. My daughter was shocked he had accidentally called his grandparent's in the middle of the night and they recognized his 17 month old gibberish.


MIDNIGHT CALLER



I lay there lost in my dreams, fetal and still.


A familiar sound breaks my repose,


my body, responding unconsciously.


My husband begins to stir listlessly,


listening with a turned ear, while I


grab the phone. Then we hold our breath


as nothing good comes at midnight.




I say hello, anxiously, as silence fills the dark.


Daba, beba, mama and then a giggle flows


through the line. TK, is that you? The gibberish


continued as together we held his voice in


our hand's. We each took our turn at grandparent


chatter as our heart's swelled with love.


Twenty minutes of baby banter disconnected


by a single accidental touch.




He continued playing with daddy's cellphone,


as his parents lay sleeping beside him,


oblivious to his nighttime play. He tires,


laying back on his pillow, watching buttons


play with the dark. Eyes begin to flutter softly,


as he drifts away on clouds of baby dreams.




31 comments:

Chris said...

Oh wow! Did he really do that?! That's great Tammy!

Julie said...

Fortunate that he didn't call Hong Kong!

What a dear story, and one that I'm sure all involved will treasure as he grows. The perfect choice for this week's PT prompt.

xoxo Star

Tinker said...

What a GREAT story/poem!! That is too funny! Years ago, my granddaughter accidentally called 9-1-1 as a toddler (they showed up!), and me once another time, but at least it was during the day time, and my daughter caught her right away, just as I figured out what was going on. The middle of the night would have been too funny. Good thing they didn't have anyone very longdistance in their phone memory!
Thanks for the smile, Tammy! XOXO

GreenishLady said...

That's so sweet. Precious memory to hold - and you made such a lovely poem from it, too.

liz elayne lamoreux said...

such a great story this poem tells. a moment in time captured by your words and memories. love that.

Claire said...

Aw, what a lovely poem and a lovely story. Just beautiful.

Cxx

Jana B said...

OMW that is SOOOOOOOOOO adorable!!!!!!! hahahaha Who would expect a toddler to smuggle a cell phone to the blankies, wait til the folks are asleep, and then make some calls! LOL Smart little guy!

paris parfait said...

I love this story, Tammy. The joys and delights of a toddler are never-ending. Lovely poem too. xo

Anonymous said...

Great story in a poem Tammy. I love how they knew who was calling. :)

Rose

xo

Regina said...

Hee hee hee! What a cute story and the picture is so sweet- hewo? Hee hee...
Your poem does the little story justice, Tammy!
xoxo

gautami tripathy said...

Toddlers are so handful!

Beautiful story in here.

Crafty Green Poet said...

What a lovely story!

wendy said...

I think I am ready for the sweetness of grandbabies. I have a couple of teenage daughters...Wanna trade?

bookbinds said...

What a touching and sweet story!

Clare said...

This is adorable and so well-written too. I love TK!

rel said...

Tammy,
This is an awesome story/poem. It glistens with a grandma's pride.
rel

Clockworkchris said...

I too am left wondering if the story is true, but it really seems to be. Very well written and the imagery is there throughout every line. Everyone I know with kids says they love cell phones. The end of the second stanza was my favorite part.

Becca said...

Tammy, this is just delightful! You've painted the most marvelous word pictures, so that I can see the whole scenario, right down to him getting tired and laying down to go to sleep, his mom and dad sleeping obliviously!

Charming :)

Amber said...

Oh, hahaha! That is so funny! What a good story to tell him when he grows up. Good thing he didn't dial 911!

:)

Anonymous said...

well-worded. great choice of story and words :)

Catherine said...

Children are always good for a story, aren't they? You phrased it beautifully

Pam said...

Wonderful telling of a sweet tale.

Love you!

turquoise cro said...

How SWEET!!! Thank YOU Tammy! I LOVE grandbaby tales! Happy Week-end!!! xoCinda

Tracie Lyn Huskamp said...

What a little darling... And a wonderful poem conversation!

Clockworkchris said...

I just wanted you to know I have linked you up.

daisies said...

oh wow ~ i love this so much, full of love and chatter and what a wonderful accidental call : )

Jone said...

Great story and poet, Tammy. And so funny because yesterday I watched my granddaughter play with her mom's cell phone and talk a bunch of gibberish. Hilarious, it was quite the conversation.

Anonymous said...

I like the way you make the reader's mood change - from apprehension to gentle humour. Lovely peice.

Kamsin said...

Aww, that's really sweet. Good job it was his grandparents he called!

Anonymous said...

How sweet of little TK to do that. I know it brightened their slumber to hear his sweet voice.

Kay Cooke said...

Oh that's so gorgeous - and told so well in clear, sweet poetry.