A Poem for Malcolm: I Remember
By Carolyn Woodfork Richardson a.k.a
“Mom” 12/10/09
I remember when I first found out you were
And when I first heard your fetal heart beat
Then you were born and yelled because it was
too cold
You were healthy, normal and active
I was grateful and I remember
I remember your first week of life
And you were napping while I baked and rattled
pans
Then you raised your hand to signal, “Silence!”
You were comfortable, calm and content
I was pleased and I remember
I remember your first birthday
And a group of little people helped you
celebrate
Then you blew out the one tiny candle
You were puzzled, happy and appreciated
I was thankful and I remember
I remember when you were almost two
And cried because I was having a bad day
Then you came over and patted my shoulder
You were kind, empathic and helpful
I was amazed and I remember
I remember when you were three
And played and thrived at Weinacker
Then you’d see me and run toward me grinning
You were secure, elated and loved
I was blessed and I remember
I remember when you were four
And got sick during our visit to Seattle
Then you quickly recovered and we enjoyed our
vacation
You were resilient, strong and restored
I was relieved and I remember
I remember when you were five
And performed at a Tae Kwon Do tournament in
Dallas
Then you won two five-foot tall trophies
You were determined, successful and ecstatic
I was proud and I remember
I remember when you were six
And I taught you to ride your bicycle
Then you kept your balance shouting, “I’m
free!”
You were triumphant, victorious and rejoiced
I was winded and I remember
I remember when you were seven
And started at Will Rogers Elementary
Then we found out Ms. Moore would not be your
teacher
You were you were settled, relaxed and
unburdened
I was satisfied and I remember
I remember when you were eight
And you planned your after-school Tae Kwon Do
class
Then you taught thirty students the basics
You were confident, resourceful and bold
I was supportive and I remember
I remember you were nine
And we traveled to Germany, Switzerland and
France
Then you rode trains, romped and played in the
snow
You were adventurous, excited and thrilled
I was appreciative and I remember
I remember when you were ten
And you prepared your John Brown presentation
Then you won Third Place, Individual in the
History Fair
You were talented, gifted and a champion
I was cheering and I remember
I remember when you were eleven
And a People-to-People Student Ambassador
Then visited places in Australia and New
Zealand
You were enlightened, independent and empowered
I was prayerful and I remember
I remember when you were twelve
And our road trip from Arkansas to Ohio
Then we attended Aunt Elaine’s home-going in DC
You were grounded, informed and mature
I was peaceful and I remember
I remember when you were thirteen
And achieved your 4th Degree Black
Belt
Then you began training to run Cross Country
You were disciplined, on-point and focused
I was impressed and I remember
I remember when you turned fourteen
And you announced, “I’m fourteen on the
fourteenth!”
Then you scored “Commended Performance” on TAKS
Math
You were outstanding, studious and beaming
I was excited and I remember
I remember when you were fifteen
And your Benjamin Banneker monograph was
accepted
Then it was archived at the Banneker-Douglass
Museum
You were honored, celebrated and esteemed
I was delighted and I remember
I remember when you were sixteen
And an Aimster at the Coast Guard Academy
Then marched in formation with Company Delta
You were professional, striking and
self-assured
I was inspired and I remember
Today you turn seventeen
And soon you’ll graduate and go off to college
Then I’ll think of all we’ve shared through the years
You are blessed, cool and smart
