Glenn Johnson’s most recent poem to appear here was “Never to Forget” (November 2017)
It’s A Girl
for Morgan
By Glenn Johnson
Mother’s birth canal guided
out poked your head
hesitated
pros and cons weighed
decided this world to explore
Announced cry of arrival
Someone said:
It’s a girl!
Cradled arms mother
suckled
love gaze embraced
mutual fragrance begun
never to be forgotten
mother entranced
her child
world of sisters received
your place in heart union sealed
declaration profound:
It’s a girl!
Diaper change
joyous wide eyes
infant glorious smile
smile all good of life
good ever be
pudgy arms
pudgy legs
heaven reaching
fingers nimbly playing toes
mound of life and wonder
proudly proclaims:
It’s a girl!
Where will you go?
Who will you meet?
What will you know?
What will you accomplish?
Journey of It’s a girl!
Small to tall are long stories
Short story:
Not all lives a fairytale
Truth must be told:
terrifying
all manners abuse
crazy men’s swaths of rage
ravage destruction through sisterhood
Tragic paradox
Born of woman
Becomes tyrant of woman?
Own sufferings no excuse for world’s profoundest tragedy:
Despoiling
Disrespecting
Beauty of It’s a girl!
Still good in this world
Coupled together
Many lives shared fulfilled
Much enjoyed:
friendship lovers
children
joy
each other hold
together time passing
Husband
Father
Knowing life blest
Hearing at his daughter’s birth:
It’s A Girl!
With all done and said
Must remove my mask
And speak the truth I dread
I bare the sins of men
Began in youth
Allowed lodging dining
Men’s heart’s parasites:
Distortion of you
Disrespect
Blind to truths of It’s A Girl!
Heard her say:
Pedestal you build
no goddess
I will not climb
Say you cannot live without me
yourself must find
Hot
Sexy
Fantasies in your mind
Addicted passion
quenched
real me
revealed in time
Bored
lust insatiable
eyes undress
next thing
fantasized
another
hot
sexy
Barby Doll
passion in your mind
Boring
endless versions
want to throw down
Equal responsibility
She may take you in
May lay down
Aware are you?
Her position
Same position
It’s A Girl! will crown?
Meeting you
Has urged me to sit
Reflect
Silence of meditation
Listen inner woman child
Thoughts that made me flinch:
objectifying
self-serving sexualized image
lusting
toying bodies
Painful to accept
I have wronged your sisters
Ignorant of significance
It’s A Girl
Shame
Cul de sac painful regret
Chastising my soul
Not healing
Enough self-pity
This I have realized
I know I must apologize
Hope
In trade for forgiveness
Cannot find those I have wronged
Do not know what to do
Those It’s A Girl! lost in time
Truly, Creator moves in mysterious ways
Reveals another truth:
My own forgiveness
Must provide
First
Honest ownership
Wrongs I have contrived
Firm commitment to change
Make real
Lessons about It’s A Girl
When I met you:
infatuated
admired
Enjoyed time shared
Love for you began
So did desire
This time
Wanted to get it right
Need see you as you are
Not as I want
You are special
Now that know
May I say
Today
Day to day
Hold image of you:
beauty
grace
sweetness
elegance
strength
spirituality
intelligence unique
The many virtues of It’s A girl
Love I offer
No delusions
Acceptance no expectation
Although wished
Regardless,
Thoughts of you
Healing inspired
Likely
Your unbeknownst gift
In my heart
I have learned to cradle
This inner woman child
swaddled ever in my heart
promised to thrive
never to forget:
There was a day
There was a blessed moment
When you entered this world
And someone said:
How beautiful!
It’s A Girl!
