This I’ve Learned

lillian

When two become one, the base remains two.
When two multiplies to four, the base remains two.

Time invested.
Birthing and unconditional love.
Your child’s everything
until independence blooms.

Time apart increases.
They see more, learn more.
And you step in and out,
never fully immersed again.

And they leave.
You are the beginning two again.

Memories, age spots,
and more love.
Knowing as they become two and multiply,
it is a cycle born to repeat itself.

And the most important arc is the base of two.
That is the constant.

Sharing with Open Link Night at dVerse, the virtual pub for poets, where today there is no prompt. We’re free to post one poem of our choosing, Pub opens at 3 PM Boston time. Come join us! 

45 thoughts on “This I’ve Learned”

    • lillian's avatar lillian February 27, 2017 / 7:31 am

      Thank you! Glad you enjoyed. This idea was in the “brewing” for several months and finally flowed to this.

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    • lillian's avatar lillian February 27, 2017 / 7:33 am

      Glad you enjoyed. This idea was “brewing” for several months. Took Bermuda’s muse during early mornings on the deck for the words to come.

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  4. kanzensakura's avatar kanzensakura February 23, 2017 / 3:06 pm

    I love your combination of age spots and mathematics. So very true is this wonderful poem.

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    • lillian's avatar lillian February 27, 2017 / 7:34 am

      Maybe the age spots are like the gunslinger’s notches on his belt, except the stand for all the moments of love we’ve had — but each one is in multiples ❤

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  5. kim881's avatar kim881 February 23, 2017 / 3:12 pm

    Very wise and absolutely lovely, Lillian! I too like the combination of age spots and maths, although I’m not very good at maths! But I do have the age spots 🙂

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  6. Thotpurge's avatar Thotpurge February 23, 2017 / 3:12 pm

    Interesting play of emotion and mathematics.

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    • lillian's avatar lillian February 27, 2017 / 7:36 am

      This idea played in my mind for a long time before finally coming out in words.

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  7. sanaarizvi's avatar sanaarizvi February 23, 2017 / 3:14 pm

    Oh Lillian, this is soo beautiful and poignant both at the same time ❤️

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  9. hypercryptical's avatar hypercryptical February 23, 2017 / 3:36 pm

    Very wise words so cleverly written. Long live the constant!
    Kind regards
    Anna :o]

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  10. Glenn Buttkus's avatar Glenn Buttkus February 23, 2017 / 3:37 pm

    They say that rendered down to its essence, everything becomes mathematics. Your heartfelt & lovely poem makes me want to go hug my wife–reflecting on our decades of marriage, our three daughters & 7 grandchildren–beauteous math indeed.

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    • lillian's avatar lillian February 27, 2017 / 7:38 am

      Beauteous math — exactly! ❤

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  11. alisonhankinson's avatar alisonhankinson February 23, 2017 / 4:13 pm

    I love this for the simplicity of the mathematical concept, and for the human condition where we must nurture and grow our offspring and then let them go. You let go with grace.

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    • lillian's avatar lillian February 27, 2017 / 7:38 am

      What a lovely lovely comment, Alison. Thank you!

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    • lillian's avatar lillian February 27, 2017 / 7:39 am

      😊 I’ll toast to that! 🍷

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  13. Jane Dougherty's avatar Jane Dougherty February 23, 2017 / 4:26 pm

    The more children you have, the more you realise how good it was being just two. I’m looking forward to getting back to that prime number again 🙂

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    • lillian's avatar lillian February 27, 2017 / 7:40 am

      I loved parenting — but it is also letting go and we do enjoy our lives together!

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      • Jane Dougherty's avatar Jane Dougherty February 27, 2017 / 7:55 am

        We’re not experiencing the anguish of letting go, more the irritation of pushing out.

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  14. Bev's avatar Bev February 23, 2017 / 4:59 pm

    There are those who can’t get back to two again, sad to say. Your words are well drawn and a good read.

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    • lillian's avatar lillian February 27, 2017 / 7:41 am

      I am indeed grateful for the love of my life. ❤

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  15. Grace's avatar Grace February 23, 2017 / 5:17 pm

    Constant and steady love as children grow up and leave the nest ~ You both are lucky to have that strong base Lillian ~

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    • lillian's avatar lillian February 27, 2017 / 7:41 am

      Thankful for every day. ❤

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  17. Heartbreathings's avatar Angela February 23, 2017 / 6:05 pm

    Yes it is! Oh, such a beautiful truth, Lillian.

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  18. MarinaSofia's avatar MarinaSofia February 24, 2017 / 4:38 am

    Oh, I wish! That’s exactly what I hoped and thought, but sadly no… Nevertheless, a lovely and hopeful poem, and I like the playfulness with which you brought mathematical terms and concepts.

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    • lillian's avatar lillian February 27, 2017 / 7:43 am

      I’m glad you enjoyed the post. We are truly blessed and thankful for every day.

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  20. Sabio Lantz's avatar Sabio Lantz February 24, 2017 / 2:25 pm

    Oh, were it constant. Instead, sometimes, instead of 2/(1+1) (two kids and two parents), it is 2/1 + 2/1. And when kids leave, 1+1 splits up because they never really bonded except for family.
    But it is beautiful when the math works. My poem(s) reflect the beauty of what happens after the poor bonding of two, finally breaks and new hope — a new nest. It is sad when kids leave but as you say, it is natural.

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    • lillian's avatar lillian February 27, 2017 / 7:45 am

      We understand we are truly blessed — and we are indeed thankful for every day. It is true….there are indeed different reiterations of the math for some, and happily so.

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  21. sarahbawden's avatar sarahbawden February 24, 2017 / 4:03 pm

    Love this. No kids yet, but loving the time I have to build the base with my hubby.

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    • lillian's avatar lillian February 27, 2017 / 7:46 am

      Ah….it is a wonderful time of friendship and love … and good sleep too! 😊 Enjoy!

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