My New Cousin by Jacinta Van Eyk

 My New Cousin

by Jacinta Van Eyk

 

Ethan Michael

is my baby cousin.                        IMG_0972

He is brand new 

with the cutest eyes

and a wriggly body, 

wrapped up in a  blanket 

light blue. 

When I arrive, 

he is sound asleep. 

We all have a little peep,

and then I get to hold 

and cuddle him.

The best is when he lies on me,                     IMG_1296

opens his eyes for me to see 

their deep blue colour.

He stretches

and gives little sighs.

When he gets hiccups

it makes me laugh.

I wish I could be there                                                                                        IMG_1297

to see him have a bath

 

IMG_1109

 

Writing a poem 

for Ethan Michael 

by Colleen KeatingIMG_1242

 

in the wee hours of the morning
you stir. . . you are on your way
like a bird from a long migration
you are arriving

as dawn sprinkles its first lights
across the sky    i am awake   alert
to morning bird song and wait
you are arriving

before noon on a bright summer day
you begin with a first breath
your heart   a fluttering bird
you have arrived

i look into your eyes
that carry other worlds
not forgotten yet    by this world
and grasp the beauty and terror
of the journey

you are the living sign of our joy
a part of us      of this world
nested with calm acceptance
of loving arms and familiar voices

for the artist your hair shines dark
crystallised ebony
your skin    the touch of a bird’s soft down
your eyes the deep of ocean-sapphire

for the poet there are no words
just wonder and awe
but like the soar of a lark ascending
writing a poem is my flight of love

 

(Ethan Michael is our 11th Grandchild born 11/01/19)