Congratulations first of all! This is exciting! Secondly, your poem, if I had not been at work, would have resulted in an uncountable number of gasps for its sheer brilliance. Fantastic!
Thank you for your beautiful poem, and congratulations to all involved! (I asked my wife if that was ok to say and she sort of said yes but she didn't say no). It is an honor to present your poem in Crown Valley Quarterly, a section of my blog where I share the best poems and stories and paintings and music and other art that I am blessed to become aware of (older artists might not be impressed, but younger ones might be encouraged). I always present a link to your Substack post or other direct source from the author. If there is anything you want me to change or remove I will do so immediately:
Thank you, not only for including my poem, but for carrying poems and paintings and music and all those fragile little creatures we call art into the world and giving them a place to sit down and be seen.
And please thank your wife as well. The fact that she “sort of said yes” may be the most honest blessing any poet has ever received.
I am deeply honored to be included in Crown Valley Quarterly. There is something beautiful about people who gather the work of others and hold it up to the light, especially now, when so much disappears before it has a chance to bloom.
Everything looks wonderful, and I would not change a thing.
Thank you for your kindness, your generosity, and for making a small corner of the world where art can continue to breathe.
That beautiful tension between wanting her back with her crooked braids and marveling at the "impossible miracle" she is now carrying perfectly captures the bittersweet heartbreak of watching your child become a mother ✨
You have exquisitely captured the many layers of mothering with beauty, tenderness, joy, and heartache. I can only hope to be so grounded when and if my time comes. I felt fiercely protective of your girl as I read this. It’s a monumental step when, yes, we can still see the child in their face and feel their little hands just as you described so well. Breathtaking.
Oh my goodness, such beauty carried in your words and in her womb. Congratulations! Though I have all sons, I’m looking forward to the day when I get “that” call.
Blood of your blood. Bone of your bone. The begotten begets.
Yes, we’re very excited 😆
Absolutely beautiful! I think I speak for a lot of people when I say I am so glad you are back on Substack.
Thank you, Mark 🖤
Awww. I can feel the love in this. Congratulations. 😍
Thank you so much ☺️
Wonderful news, and you delivered it in such a beautiful way! Bravo!
Thank you so much 😊
Congratulations first of all! This is exciting! Secondly, your poem, if I had not been at work, would have resulted in an uncountable number of gasps for its sheer brilliance. Fantastic!
Thank you so much. We’re very excited 😆
"Life
is a thief
and a giver
in the same breath.
It steals
the daughter
and returns
the mother."
She isn't choosing
between grief
and joy.
She's just finally
letting both
sit
in the same nest.
— AËLA
Thank you for your beautiful words ♥️
Thank you for your beautiful poem, and congratulations to all involved! (I asked my wife if that was ok to say and she sort of said yes but she didn't say no). It is an honor to present your poem in Crown Valley Quarterly, a section of my blog where I share the best poems and stories and paintings and music and other art that I am blessed to become aware of (older artists might not be impressed, but younger ones might be encouraged). I always present a link to your Substack post or other direct source from the author. If there is anything you want me to change or remove I will do so immediately:
https://liveyosemite.wordpress.com/2026/07/02/crown-valley-quarterly/
What lovely news!
Thank you, not only for including my poem, but for carrying poems and paintings and music and all those fragile little creatures we call art into the world and giving them a place to sit down and be seen.
And please thank your wife as well. The fact that she “sort of said yes” may be the most honest blessing any poet has ever received.
I am deeply honored to be included in Crown Valley Quarterly. There is something beautiful about people who gather the work of others and hold it up to the light, especially now, when so much disappears before it has a chance to bloom.
Everything looks wonderful, and I would not change a thing.
Thank you for your kindness, your generosity, and for making a small corner of the world where art can continue to breathe.
With gratitude,
Virginia
Thank you, Virginia, this brought tears of gratitude.
No… thank you! 🥹♥️
Sone of the most beautiful words I’ve ever read!
Thank you 🥹♥️
Such a beautiful poem. I especially love
"But life is a thief
and a giver in the same breath."
♥️🥹🙏
This is phenomenally beautiful. 🥹
Thank you 🙏
That beautiful tension between wanting her back with her crooked braids and marveling at the "impossible miracle" she is now carrying perfectly captures the bittersweet heartbreak of watching your child become a mother ✨
It truly is bittersweet.
And congratulations!!!
Thank you! We’re excited! 😆
You have exquisitely captured the many layers of mothering with beauty, tenderness, joy, and heartache. I can only hope to be so grounded when and if my time comes. I felt fiercely protective of your girl as I read this. It’s a monumental step when, yes, we can still see the child in their face and feel their little hands just as you described so well. Breathtaking.
Thank you. It’s a very emotional experience ♥️
This is SO beautiful, congratulations!
Thank you! 🙏
Oh my goodness, such beauty carried in your words and in her womb. Congratulations! Though I have all sons, I’m looking forward to the day when I get “that” call.
Thank you so much ♥️
So beautiful! The news and your eloquent expression of it all.
Thank you so much ☺️