Toddlers’ Steps

All part of the journey,

tiny steps,

toddled steps,

reaching, wond’ring, touching, tumbling,

tentative steps, tiny steps,

falling down and bumping

and rising once again,

toddlers’ steps, the learning ones,

very little steps.

 

Frustrated tears and tantrums,

cautious steps,

toddled steps,

discovery in action,

wondrous steps, toaty steps,

letting go and trusting with some traction found and then

little steps, keep travelling,

very little steps.

 

Forwards, backwards, sideways, standing,

smiling, crying, up aspiring,

bumpy steps, toddlers’ steps,

fingers flailing, clutching, prising,

stumbling, reaching, failing, rising

step by step, step by step,

little butts keep tumbling, bouncing on and up,

teeny, tiny, teaching little steps.

 

perseverance, motion upright, two-step struggle, backwards,

forwards, ever onwards, sometimes upwards,

trying, failing, hurting, crying, immobilised, afraid,

still trying, trusting, seeing, wailing, weeping,

tempers, tantrums, dismayed and greeting,

pulling socks up, tying laces, ready, steady,

balance handy,

tiny little steps.

 

Eyes on loving arms outreaching,

smiling steps, trusting steps,

supporting, cheering, gaze unwaver’d

encouraged steps, building steps,

loving trust and confidence from others on the way,

little steps, the needed ones,

all important steps.

 

Striding out with self-assurance,

tiny steps,

toddled steps,

reaching for all promise,

swaying steps, bipedalled steps,

steps along the journey never really change their gait,

growth and progress toddle on,

determined toddlers’ steps.

 

Advertisement

Motivation

Hands that hold

implements with purpose,

tools to graft

or craft

or leisure lent.

Myriad hands,

motivating meaning,

persevere

till energy

is spent.

The Climb

Tremulous and wary,

Scarred outcrops, hands do meet,

Risking all for summit,

Chasms at my feet.

 

Wending way through mire,

Sunken souls abound,

Treading carefully, unknown

Pathways to be found.

 

Clambering to mountain top,

Paths trod by others past,

Obliterated passage,

Take care and hold on fast.

 

On hands and knees to grip the way,

Rising then to greet

Peak among the clouds on high,

Accomplishment so sweet.

 

Faster than ascent of this,

Descent knows clearer rite,

Sliding swiftly, gloriously,

Abandoned safety flight.

 

Ascent’s a scary business,

Risking life and limb

But touching heaven’s foothills

Makes for worthy aim.

 

I said I’d never tackle

Such a one again,

Elevated trial,

Encountering so much pain.

 

New challenges arise and then

I don my hiking gear,

Embark on death-defying quest,

Inside my heart I cheer

 

At opposition clearly met,

In honest self-endeavour,

Braver than ignoring them,

Is trying with some fervour.

 

Sometimes we may not see the crest,

Shrouded so in cloud,

But effort and endurance

May make ourselves feel proud.

 

Some hardy togs, a hiking staff

And heart of sterner stuff,

Battling on, in adversity,

Often is enough.

The Race

One baby step,

A toddler’s wobble,

Fall, arise,

Walk or hobble,

Run or skip,

Gallop, hop,

It matters not,

One drip or drop….

 

Erodes the stone,

The crusty case,

Hold tight to baton,

Complete the race.