Wednesday, March 2, 2011

street light (2)

giacomo balla street light

i'm so blessed
so frightened
to be the father
of my children

22 comments:

* said...

Ah, something only a father would understand (I mean this in a good, gravity-grounding kids root you to what's important in the universe way).

Jo said...

It is an awesome, awe-filled, awe-inspiring thing, isn't it?

It's wonderful that you feel it so fully and completely.

I fear many fathers do not.

"The beauty of the world has two edges, one of laughter, one of anguish, cutting the heart asunder." ~Virginia Woolf

Dan Gurney said...

Parenting is sublime, isn't it? At some point the equation of caring comes to a balance point, and as we get really old, the direction of the flow of caring reverses. Remembering that, it's important to do the best job you can.

Dejemonos sorprender said...

Very nice the composition )
a nice defiance))

steven said...

terresa - every day as a dad is a gift. truly it is. the gift sometimes looks like suffering, sometimes like surprise, sometimes like discovering that love has even greater depths than i have known before. thanks for your thoughtful comment. steven

steven said...

hello jo! the woolf quote carries the weight of this piece very nicely. thankyou for adding it here. steven

steven said...

dan - i know that the care i share in all its forms is a possibility that is carried by whomever it reaches. they can then choose to welcome some or all of its form into their own living. steven

steven said...

thankyou matias! defiance! steven

Elisabeth said...

Fatherhood is both a gift and a burden, Steven. I can imagine you bear it well.

all ways 11 o'clock said...

Your humility here is wonderful.
i do share and identify.

~robert

The Weaver of Grass said...

Fantastic photograph steven - and yes parenthood is scary, I agree.

Reya Mellicker said...

Wow. Twelve words says it all. Your children are very very lucky.

Titus said...

Oh yes, and what a beautiful picture.

Ruth said...

Oh we talk of this often, Steven, looking back, Don and I. How did it come out? We made mistakes, but they are pretty great people. The main thing was we loved them. They knew it and they felt it, and they still know and feel it. Everything else seems to get taken care of. But I tore my hair out with daughter.

As for other kinds of fear, I don't know how we ever get through that about our kids.

Vicki said...

As a Grandma and a Mom, I have NO DOUBT you will raise fine children into caring and generous adults with your soulful soul! Does that make sense?

steven said...

vicki - thankyou very much - your thoughts make sense . . . i am so gratful for the gift of my children and i don't want to miss any opportunity to celebrate that gift. steven

steven said...

ruth - i know that the day will arrive when i am able to look back at this time, perhaps laugh, perhaps cry again, but it's a rich time filled with possibility and hope and then also the most tender connection. steven

steven said...

titus - well thankyou! steven

steven said...

reya - they are so much who they are and i can see so many people in my life in them and then also people no longer in my life. it's such a fascinating and then also devastating humbling reminding rewarding experience. there is no knowing what each day will bring. steven

steven said...

weaver i knew you'd know! steven

steven said...

hello robert - it's one of the places of greatest learning for me. steven

steven said...

elisabeth - i wake each day looking forward to seeing them. they aren't always as anxious to see me. at day's end when i hug them both and wish them good dreams i feel the ache of separation. in-between i wonder what they are and even who they are becoming. so much unfolds without me. steven