Where did it go?

We sold the crib (as though he slept in it a single night)

To a cute young couple.

He was muscly and eager – proud of his craigslist bargain.

Her baby tummy stretched toward her

Crisp maternity top, her voice bubbly with nursery plans.

We donated the swing to the church.

Gingham and blue.
Old-school – just the way I wanted it.
(Although it always seemed to go a bit too high and too fast for my liking.)

We handed-me-down the 2Ts, 3Ts and 4Ts

Tiny Easter suits.  Cottony soft footie jammies.
Thomas the Train shirts.  Elmo red shorts.

I know where all those things went.

But time.

Where did time go?

My baby boy – all 53 pounds & 48 inches of him –

Whose dimply, toothless grin accents
His cute chin freckle.
Whose blond hair glimmers white after
A season of summer.
Whose eyes gently close as I sing him to
Sleep each night.
Whose hide & seek giggle of “Daddy, ee r oo?”
Turned into “Excuse me, Dad, but can
We play Wipeout on the Xbox?” –
Will start first grade in a few weeks.

“First grade, already?” they ask.

I ask myself.

Where did the time go?

And, while I would love to answer this

Question with poetry and surety,
I have no answer.

So –

Knowing each second deepens the question,

And quickens the moments toward
first grade, second grade, fifth grade, 16 –

I hold him tighter

Longer.

I sing bedtime songs sweeter

Slower.

I make each kiss, hug, smile, and laugh count.

Count more than the seconds of

The all too elusive

time.