Poem for a Young Man

on reaching the age of 21 (born and raised in Amsterdam beside the canals...) and born on 14 February

So it was cold winter, frost clenched the ground and iced the air
the small birds shuddered and did not sing
But one morning the sun shone on the dark water of the canals
You were born (dare I say, quoting the poet William Blake,
naked, shrieking, piping loud
like a fiend hid in a cloud )
How could I ever forget,
tiny life, on Saint Valentine’s Day.
Yes, you were with us and had come to stay.

Pictures I remember:
Hello, small blonde boy, sitting by the window
gazing out, wondering,
then turbulent teenager, unravelling time
asking and seldom waiting to hear the response
wrestling to find your own way,
shouting, laughing, weeping
thrashing the dumb air

Now another Valentine’s Day
the air grows clearer
and the sun shines warmer...

(with much love from your kinda auntie, Wendie xxxxx)