Waiting for Parenthood

being prepared is helpful
nesting is essential
imagine and dream and plan

choosing meaningful names
how does that look on a CV?
what will the fans chant?

and the questions
from family and co-workers
strangers and friends

no, he is not here yet
yes, we are excited
yes, it is amazing

mostly, it is surreal

just like a hug where your hands don't quite touch
our heads can't quite reach around you
not yet anyway

so we wait
nod to the "it changes everything's"
politely accept the "next time I see you's…"

and patiently sleep off a one last Friday night
forgetting the noise
dreaming of you and only you

waiting to be parents
whatever that means

Twas the night before the night before Christmas...

Twas the night before the night before Christmas, when all through the land
Not a fly fisher was casting, neither woman, nor man;
The water kept flowing over limestone beds with ease,
Bathing in moonlight, sounds muffled by snow covered trees;
Somewhere in the Rockies, Appalachains or Midwest,
A lone fisher buckled their waders to their chest;
They tied on their boots, breath steaming from their mouth,
and blowed in their hands looking north and south;
When all of a sudden, a fish rose in the stream,
A ripple released from the eddies to the seam;
It was hard to see on this moonlit night,
But no fish could escape this fly fisher's sight.
So straight to the tippet, then to the pack,
Then to the fly box for the plan of attack;
On Caddis! On Hendrickson! On Blue Winged Olive and Scud!
On Zeebra Midge! On Phesant Tail Nymph and C. D. C. Emerger Bug!
Tied tight to the line then stripped out the rest,
Laying out a cast that was niether good, nor better, but best;
Reaching out flat, a perfect loop to the water,
The line pulled tight and pulled harder and harder;
A flood of emotion, elation, just beaming,

With fish now in hand the fisher saw this was the legend of which the fisher had been dreaming;

Known across this land as only the Czar,

Searched out by many from lands near and far;

In that quiet moonlight it was just the fisher and fish,

No cameras nor witnesses, just a child with a fulfilled wish;

The fisher wispered a thank you and the body slid from his hand;

The adventure ended just as soon as it began;

Walking back along the bank, to the cold parking lot,

This was a Christmas the fisher never forgot. 

So on chilled winter nights, when you are tucked in and covered,

Remember the Czar still swims out there, waiting to be discovered.