I posted the first line of this ee cummings poem when my son went off to college. Here is the poem in its entirety. I suspect that cummings meant it for a lover, but to me, it is the most beautiful expression of a parent's love for a child. I dedicate it to all parents, everywhere, but especially to those who have children with special needs:
i carry your heart with me
i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)
i fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you
here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart
i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)
ee cummings
Comments (9)
That's a beautiful poem....I totally agree with you about it representing a parent's love for their child....
Thank you for sharing it....
Posted by Kathie | October 16, 2008 11:36 AM
Posted on October 16, 2008 11:36
You really have a knack for selecting the most beautiful & moving pieces. The fact that you also dedicated to parents w/special needs children brought me to tears today. My neice is a special-needs child. She started middle-school this year (mainstream) and has begun having to deal with a new level of intolerance that she had been shielded from until now. It's been heartbreaking...she's such a wonderful girl with a beautiful soul and it hurts to know that we won't always be able to protect her from the 'real world'. We do carry her heart, though...
Posted by Marcia | October 16, 2008 12:26 PM
Posted on October 16, 2008 12:26
That is lovely
Posted by tammy | October 16, 2008 12:47 PM
Posted on October 16, 2008 12:47
Great poem, sentiment. Thanks for it.
Posted by Susie | October 16, 2008 12:58 PM
Posted on October 16, 2008 12:58
I absolutely love this poem. Although I don't have any children, I can only imagine the love one feels as a parent. Thanks for sharing this poem in it's entirety.
Posted by courtney | October 16, 2008 1:55 PM
Posted on October 16, 2008 13:55
A lovely poem, Ann. Thanks for posting it. My only child, a son who is also named Jack, is the light of my life and (I often feel) the only good thing I have ever done. You're right when you say this poem clearly articulates the love a parent has for his or her child. I also agree with a statement I read somewhere which says that having a child is agreeing to have your heart walk around outside your body for your entire life.
Posted by Elizabeth Madlem | October 16, 2008 2:48 PM
Posted on October 16, 2008 14:48
As mom to a daughter by adoption--I have always told her that she grew in my heart, not under it---the sentiments shared are truly beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by Barbara | October 16, 2008 5:13 PM
Posted on October 16, 2008 17:13
If anyone has ever read your blogs they can feel the love you and your husband has for your famly and clearly others . You share so much and it really helps , I look forward to them every day. Love the pics , did the eggs hatch ?
Posted by Destini | October 16, 2008 5:39 PM
Posted on October 16, 2008 17:39
That is so beautiful, I think I will do it in calligraphy and frame it.
Thanks for brightning my day!
Posted by Sandy | October 17, 2008 1:05 AM
Posted on October 17, 2008 01:05