Read

"The Son"

Creator:
Published:
March 28, 2024
October 21, 2021
Read "The Son", a breast cancer poem; the poet wrote this for the son of someone who died of breast cancer.|"No, I don’t know you, but I did know the No of your mother howling the O of horror, the Ah of acknowledgment. Ah, Noah, I did know the hand that handed you diagnosis wrapped in a poem wrapped in No, in Ah, in the complicated fabric of love that looked no didn’t look yes, did like God terrified or gloating. I did not know I did not not know I do. Ah, no. The clean gaze of the eye. The cracking laughter. Ah, you know the joy she twirled, how she whirled the world around you, the fierce, proud, Mama-love churning into Ah. I do know the way she tongued your name. No Ah with no maybes, just a capital YES despite fury pecking at the underside of her voice, her Yes, I’ll be and be for you, and you, and yours; champion and longer than breath that curled around us, stretched taut, then slipknot-tied tight in anger or joy or weeping or awe. Ah. Noah, I did not know. I do."
Additional Credits:

We think you'll like these:
Doomscrolling Isn’t Helping You or Others — 3 Ways to Stop
The Power of Unexpected Moments of Human Connection
"You Deserve"
A Global Citizen: 30 Countries Before 30
Why Conflict Can Actually Make Your Marriage Better

@grottonetwork #BreastCancerAwareness ♬ Night Trouble - Petit Biscuit

Creators:
Marjorie Maddox
Published:
March 28, 2024
October 21, 2021
back to all stories
On a related note...
Meet the Man Fighting the System with Stubborn Hope: Wendell Berry
8 Minutes

Meet the Man Fighting the System with Stubborn Hope: Wendell Berry

Patrick Tomassi
Read

Read Now
>
How I Battled Loneliness with Tacos (and Intentionality)
4 Minutes

How I Battled Loneliness with Tacos (and Intentionality)

Bond Warner Strong
Read

Read Now
>
‘Why Not Live in Reckless Wonder?’ 3 Poems Bundled Around Beauty
3 Minutes

‘Why Not Live in Reckless Wonder?’ 3 Poems Bundled Around Beauty

Grotto
Read

Read Now
>
"A Poem for the Broken-Hearted"
2 Minutes

"A Poem for the Broken-Hearted"

Sophie Caldecott
Read

Read Now
>
Making the Most of the Holidays Away from Home
Minutes

Making the Most of the Holidays Away from Home

Andrew Mentock
Read

Read Now
>
Why You Should Keep a Gratitude Journal All Year Round
4 Minutes

Why You Should Keep a Gratitude Journal All Year Round

Emily Mae Mentock
Read

Read Now
>
When it Comes to New Years Resolutions, Grounded > Perfection
5 Minutes

When it Comes to New Years Resolutions, Grounded > Perfection

Marye Colleen Larme
Read

Read Now
>
Running the Chicago Marathon Turned My Life Around
6 Minutes

Running the Chicago Marathon Turned My Life Around

Molly Bealin
Read

Read Now
>
Palm Sunday Spotify Playlist | #GrottoMusic
59 Minutes

Palm Sunday Spotify Playlist | #GrottoMusic

Grotto
Listen

Listen Now
>
St. Augustine of Hippo Spotify Playlist | #GrottoMusic
37 Minutes

St. Augustine of Hippo Spotify Playlist | #GrottoMusic

Grotto
Read
Listen

Listen Now
>
The Best Life Advice Your Friends Can Give You
Minutes

The Best Life Advice Your Friends Can Give You

Claire Condon
Read

Read Now
>
JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis and the Lost Art of Friendship
Minutes

JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis and the Lost Art of Friendship

Hunter Cates
Read

Read Now
>
Nonprofit Combats Racial Disparity in the Bail System
Minutes

Nonprofit Combats Racial Disparity in the Bail System

Grotto
Watch

Watch Now
>
The Power of Saying ‘Yes’ to Adoption
5 Minutes

The Power of Saying ‘Yes’ to Adoption

Grotto
Read

Read Now
>
3 'Aha' Moments from Parenthood
Minutes

3 'Aha' Moments from Parenthood

Maria Walley
Read

Read Now
>
Employing Adults with Autism: The Right Decision
Minutes

Employing Adults with Autism: The Right Decision

Grotto
Read
Watch

Watch & Read Now
>
"Welcoming the Stranger"
Minutes

"Welcoming the Stranger"

Ellen B. Koneck
Read

Read Now
>
"Thunderstorm with Mountains"
2 Minutes

"Thunderstorm with Mountains"

Marjorie Maddox
Read

Read Now
>
Food is a Lot Like Love — Here’s Why
4 Minutes

Food is a Lot Like Love — Here’s Why

Grace Spiewak
Read

Read Now
>
6 New Workouts To Change Up Your Routine
Minutes

6 New Workouts To Change Up Your Routine

Claire Krakowiak
Read

Read Now
>
newsletter

We’d love to be pals.

Sign up for our newsletter, and we’ll meet you in your inbox each week.

Relationships
Inspiration
Read
Christina Baker
Sarah Gagliano Taliun
Hallie Michelle
Alexandra Bendixen
Abby Urban
Hannah Chartier
Lisa Jordan
Laura DeMaria
Ivan Brea
Hannah Tonsor
Will Peterson
Widian Nicola
Victoria Rabuse
Veronica Szczygiel
Tim O'Malley
Victoria Mastrangelo
Vanesa Zuleta Goldberg
Tony Oleck
Tiana Wilson
Tom Gannon
Tim Pisacich
Theresa Sullivan
Terry Fitzgibbons
Stephanie DePrez
Tara McMullen
Tara Kelly
Tanya Macias
Tanner Kalina
Tamara Stacey
Stephanie Konrady
Stephen G. Adubato
Stacey Huneck
Sophie Caldecott
Sarah Portner, LMSW
Shemaiah Gonzalez
Sister Fiat Staley
Sofía Muñoz Abou-Jaoudé
Shannon Evans
Sarah Cortez
Sarah Stovicek
Sarah Yaklic
Sarah Pelrine
Sarah Morris
Sarah Coffey
Sarah Adams
Samantha Stephenson
Sara Thoms
Samantha Yee
Sage Webb
Robert Christian
Ryan Broussard
Rob Goodale
Ricky McRoskey
Rick Yoder
Rick Becker
Patrick Schmadeke
Reuben Kendall
Rev. Brendan J. McAleer, C.S.C.
Renée Roden
Renée LaReau
Patty Breen
Paul Mitchell
Paul Campbell
Paul Acampora
Patrick Tomassi
Patrick Smith
Patrick Cruitt
Patricia Valderrama
Olivia T. Taylor
Noah Bongiovanni
Pat Flynn
Nik Guiney
Nicole Watt
Nicole Stallworth
Molly Spalding
Neil Fulton
Molly Gettinger
Molly Cruitt
Molly C. Sheahan
Molly Bealin
Mike Tenney
Mike Rossetti
Mike Jordan Laskey
Migs Mignanelli
Michelle King
Michael Tarui
Michael O'Neill
Meghan Franklin
Megan Ulrich
Megan Toal
Meg Miller
Megan O’Brien Crayne
Megan Brown Czerwinski
Maureen O’Brien
Maura Sullivan Hill
Matt Paolelli
Matthew Flynn
Marye Colleen Larme
Matt Dinan
Mary Rose Somarriba
Relationships
Inspiration