June 2017 – Invisible Issues

Funny how “National Poetry Month” didn’t result in more blog posts in April… April and May were beautiful, challenging, and exhausting. Why so? Our lovely twin daughters were completing their senior year in high school, which meant senior prom, final theater productions, band contest, AP tests, and final programs of many kinds. Of course, in the midst of this, MS has popped in from time to time… since late April, I’ve had great fun with “mandibular neuralgia,” where a nerve on my bottom left jaw (mandible) has decided to act up. But I can deal with this, just glad I don’t have current speaking engagements ;).

Graduation was last week, and by the time we returned home after our lovely open house celebration on Saturday, my “battery” level was quite low… it’s taken me a few days to “recharge,” but I feel like I’ve done that. Good thing, as today marks a huge celebration. Which celebration is that? Emily and Rachel’s eighteenth birthday!

In honor of this day, and as a final poetic post, I’ll share the story of their birth from the perspective of their mother. (This won second place in an area poetry competition, with the theme, “The Great Outdoors.”)

The Magic Door
by Angie Knight ( a true story – April-June 1999)

The time was close – six weeks to go,
spring was on its way.
Mommy waited patiently and
treasured every day.

Her favorite season brought new life
to tired, faded trees,
while she and Daddy took a walk
to feel the April breeze.

Soon they would come, two little ones
who waited now to see
the lovely world that would be home
for Babies A and B.

But then the doctor put the brakes
on time for work and play,
“Lay and rest, this will be best,
and soon will come their day.”

Six long weeks, they plodded by,
with Mommy longing for
a moment to just take a step
out through the wooden door.

She’d missed the daffodils, the scents
when spring was in the air,
the Great Outdoors were calling,
but she couldn’t visit there.

The day, it came, the babies joined
the world, first A then B.
They stretched and cried and lay in beds
for everyone to see.

Two days later, home they came
and all could hear them cry.
Eating helped and swings were nice,
but everything they’d try

to calm the smaller baby failed –
not song, not bounce or whirl.
The tired mom was wondering,
so holding Baby Girl,

she opened up that wooden door
and let the infant see
the outside world –
then something seemed to happen magic-ly.

Her eyes were new, but what she saw
brought silence to the place.
The spell she felt, the Great Outdoors,
the fresh, green quiet space.

In days to come, the parents found
the “magic door” still reigned:
quiet overtook the child
and peacefulness remained

each time they took a step outside
to venture out and see
“The Great Outdoors,” a view of life
that helped her to feel free.

Eighteen years later, not only do these young ladies sleep through the night, but they are amazing, intelligent, talented women who will be starting college in August. Ironically, the infant who loved stepping outside is now happiest when reading, making music, or interacting with technology inside. Rachel Rachel will be pursuing a degree in social studies education, with plans to eventually become a school librarian. I love watching her pursue story, literature, and truth – all with that special spark that is “Rachel.”

Emily, however, loves to spend time outside and frequently helps with the garden. She will will be working toward a degree in chemistry education. Having won the top award for science and for math in her high school class (yes, ahead of the fellows), Em is on her way to becoming the most engaging, artistic, and inspiring chemistry teacher we’ve ever seen. Her art blog may be viewed at www.emilyknight.org, and it will be wonderful to see where this talented twin’s life heads.