My son tows the
plastic alligator xylophone behind.
He is everything that I want to be;
risible, willful, daring.
Full of woodnotes.
Free of skepsis.
True.
He is laying a trail for me to follow.
My impatience of his tiny steps
reveals me to me.
I am hardly yet who I want to be;
worrying, wrinkled, naff.
Full of scorn.
Free of romp.
True.
I am laying a trail for him to follow.
I must remember that.
I must remember to remember
my own plastic alligator xylophone,
because I want to be everything
that he wants me to be.
The son of American gypsy entertainers, author Lucien E. G. Spelman was born and educated on the road, instilling in him a sense of adventure, wonder, whimsy (some may say caprice), and the driving desire to disassemble the woof and warp of the human condition. He has made his living as a flamenco guitarist, actor, stuntman, and ferry boat captain. He has always been a writer, and has recently even gotten paid for it. He lives in Boston, Massachusetts with his wife, son, and an exquisitely ugly little pug.
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18 Responses to “THE ALLIGATOR XYLOPHONE • by Lucien E. G. Spelman”
Comments
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July 24th, 2009 at 3:18 am
What a positive piece of poetry.
Loved it.
July 24th, 2009 at 4:48 am
Beautifully thought-provoking and poignant. Lovely.
July 24th, 2009 at 5:46 am
I especially like “free of skepsis,” a goal startling in old leaders on whom we all depend.
July 24th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
Very well done.
–dj
July 24th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
you are an amazing writer !
July 24th, 2009 at 9:18 pm
I LOVED it!!!! Says much about the man, the father!
July 26th, 2009 at 11:48 am
Great imagery and beautiful use of the language…Love it. Reminds me of my own son.
July 26th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
Wonderful poem!!
July 26th, 2009 at 3:31 pm
Lucien — We don’t know each other, but your poem struck such a chord with me. It made me cry.
Cathy Pickerrell
July 26th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
What a beautiful expression of the father/son relationship. An insightful look at parenthood with word imagery that illuminates and shines.
July 26th, 2009 at 8:42 pm
Imagine a world with a rich vocabulary! I so appreciated this.
July 27th, 2009 at 8:06 am
Wow. This really resonates with those of us who have become “free of romp.” Really nice poem.
July 28th, 2009 at 7:28 am
As a father of four, ages 1 to 14, your poem touched me with its beauty, simplicity and truth. Well done.
July 28th, 2009 at 7:59 am
Wow!Makes me want to go hug my son. Well done LEGS!
July 28th, 2009 at 10:43 am
Beautifully wrought!
I think you’re one to watch!
July 29th, 2009 at 5:23 am
Thanks everyone, for the wonderful comments and for taking the time to rate the poem!
August 2nd, 2009 at 5:14 pm
I had to look up ’slepsis,’ which ended up meaning what I’d thought it would. Then I had to look up ‘neff.’ Thanks for the new words!
After my forays to the Dictionary.com, I sat and re-read your poem several times. It is truly delightful–good details, great last two lines. Very well wrtten, too. Wow!
August 6th, 2009 at 7:22 pm
[...] The Alligator Xylophone, a poem about my son and being a father, was very well received at Every Day Poets, a great site which features a new poem every day. [...]