Rocking Reuben

Just over a month ago our friend Gavin and his wife Liz had a baby boy.

Gavin posted about it, saying that he'd "spent hours out of last night rocking Reuben", and that it sounded like a song title.

It does.

And it's been rolling around in my head ever since.

I emailed a copy of the song-without-melody to Gavin this morning, and warned that I'd be posting it, despite the ongoing dispute Randall and I are having about the number of rhyming lines... (he thinks there should be four)

It brings me back to those wonderful first nights with my babies; when we were a world unto ourselves.

A gift to Gavin and Liz, but also to me.

* * * * *

Rocking Reuben

The wind in the treetops is whispering by

And diamond-like stars in the inky-black sky

Dance lightly and brightly to heaven while I'm

Rocking Reuben

*

An island of lamplight surrounded by dark

The mantle clock ticks, keeping time with my heart

And everything else fades away when I start

Rocking Reuben

*

My heart in my hands has gone gently to sleep

Marooned in this darkness where histories meet

I murmur his future and past while I keep

Rocking Reuben

*

Now humming a blessing, a soft lullaby

His baby breath blows on my neck with a sigh

And I'll stay, while moon, stars and darkness pass by,

Rocking Reuben.

* * * * *

Happy birth day, Reuben North Jensen.

October 31, 2009.

Welcome.