by Shweta Hegde
For my daughter Meera
Yesterday we received a kindness,
Sweeter because unexpected.
The delight on my child’s face,
Sweeter because unexpected.
Her little hands… how small!
Molding, holding
With tapping foot and spinning clay.
That wonder and the joy,
Sweeter because unexpected.
Gracious in accepting help
From giant hands…
[Yes, giant! Around hers]
And yet so gentle.
That gentleness.. also unexpected.
What she created, honed and tended to
Brought another gift beyond wonder.
“I think I’m really good at this!
I didn’t think I would be!”
Sweeter because unexpected.
Listen to the poem here:
Photo credit: Shweta Hegde
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Shweta Hegde is intentional about cultivating creativity in her wonderfully full life but sometimes a poem just writes itself. She adores her town of sweet, picture-perfect Dexter, but this poem is about Throw Ann Arbor where they surprised her last year by setting up her daughter (age 6!) with her very own pottery wheel – an unexpected kindness!
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This is an original poem, brought to you by Poet Tree Town, a Washtenaw-based poetry-in-public initiative and celebration of local poets. Find out more about Poet Tree Town on Instagram and Facebook, or say hello at [email protected].
