Granddaughter at 6 Months

by Cheryl Merrick

Smiles of recognition

Thoughtful glances

Shared giggles

Proudly sitting up by herself

Rolling over is mastered

Holding on tightly, she stands

Her few steps hinting of future independence

Fascinated by life

She explores her world

Carefully considering sounds and tastes

Watching children play

Grabbing and shaking all within her reach

Chewing and sampling all that will go into her mouth

Till finally, snuggling into the arms of those who love her,

Her excitement gives way

To exhausted sleep

Labor of Love

by Cheryl Merrick

I know I love him,
     but I feel like punching him.
Could it be I have lost my sense of humor
     after 17 hours of labor?
My back aches!

His cheerful musings of how fun
it would be to have our child
     born on the 4th of July,
     or leap year,
     or Halloween,
     or being in labor on Labor day,

An Afternoon with Diana

by Cheryl Merrick

Seeing your eyes bright

and following movement,

You responding to sounds, and

Your relaxed stretching out

instead of clenching into a small ball,

I know you are getting stronger

and will be all right.

Inside I feel my grandmother’s heart healing

as I hold you lovingly in my arms,

cherishing these special moments

we have together.

Weaving

by Cheryl Merrick

Threads of love

His strains- strong, supportive, protective

Hers strains - concerned and nurturing

Each service of caring,

Each sacrifice of time or comfort,

Filling in the empty space, thread by strong thread

Giving meaning to their lives and

weaving their Tapestry of Love

A New Family is Born

by Cheryl Merrick

Mother soft with love

Father proudly protective

Baby cuddly and helpless

United in nurturing

A new family is born

Another Child

by Cheryl Anne Merrick

Dreamily the young bride
eagerly looks forward
to having their first baby.

Her thoughts filled with pink booties,
and scented with baby lotion,
she eagerly anticipates 
months filled with
cheerfully decorating the baby’s room
and preparing for their
little bundle of joy.

First Child

by Cheryl Merrick

Arrival

Excited and nervous
     we await your arrival.
Will we be good parents?
How do you take care of a baby?
I’ve never even held one before.
We attend classes.
I make maternity and baby clothes.
Your father sands and paints the crib yellow.
Small clothes are washed and diapers are ready,
     but are we ready?

Mantle of Motherhood

by Cheryl Merrick


It begins with nausea and tiredness
  which turn into smiles as small kicks assure 
  of a healthy baby growing within.
Having passed through the birth ordeal,
you feel a new depth of joy as you
hold your child tenderly in your arms