Your child was born in another country
and so there are hoops
to jump through
to get him to live
somewhere else.
Your child was born in another country
and so each day
he sees faces different than his
and his world
becomes imminently
bigger.
Your child was born in another country
so he may
never be able
to see the hospital
where you had him.
Your child was born in another country
so his palate is
a colorful passport
of all the places
he has been and will go.
Your child was born in another country
so he doesn't
get to see his
grandparents or cousins
as often as anyone would like.
Your child was born in another country
so he already
has a brat pack of
international friends
that have similar backgrounds
Dutch American, Danish Czech,
Canadian, American with parents
who have lived abroad for years.
One day he will meet in a bar
with his international friends
in some exotic destination
and praise or curse you.
Your child was born in another country
so like you who grew up
with a nomadic oil and gas family
he might never understand
the idea of
my best friend since I was 3.
Your child was born in another country
so he will share stories and
understand histories
beyond books and
our imaginations.
"And praise or curse you", this is what we wait to find out - it will be one or the other. Praying for the former!
ReplyDeleteIt is funny to raise your child in a place, in a world, so different from the one you were raised in. Praise or curse indeed! I vote praise!
ReplyDeleteI love the push and pull of this piece. At the end of the day, your family is together and that is what matters. You balance it well between the opportunities of your circumstances and the so called fallout of it. I think it's amazing. Both the writing and your raising your child out in the world.
ReplyDeleteI think you nailed it in the last stanza--your kiddo will have so many more benefits than drawbacks! Beautiful poem--thank you for sharing your thoughts!
ReplyDelete