Selah
021: an old poem to get me through a busy week
dust settling
hope fading
days dragging
hearts drowning
in tears, in fears
in doubts so big
they towered over us,
over everything
curtains not shut
but light still out of reach
and then
twin maroon lines on a stick
a sweet, rhythmic soundwave
a black-and-white thermal piece of paper
a blinking dot on a screen
like a ray of light
seeping through a dark room
there you were
you came along,
bringing hope
carrying light
illuminating, radiating
giving us life through yours
This poem is entitled Selah1, first published in the poetry collection, A Quiet Unfolding.2 I wrote it while my daughter was still growing in my belly. Now, she’s a year and two months old. And wow are we perpetually tired. Mind you, my husband and I just both entered our thirties! But despite the tiredness, she never fails to put a smile on our faces. And though there are times when I would look back and think about how I should have enjoyed life more before having a child, I find greater fulfillment in being a parent. It’s a challenging and daunting role, yet it proves to be worthwhile. Humbling, too. I learn so much about life from her.
These past few days, we’ve had little to no sleep as our daughter caught a bug and has been sick since Sunday. And lately, a lot of people I know have fallen sick as well. It must be the change in the weather. But since then, our daughter has been restless and fussy. We’ve brought her to her pedia yesterday, and she’s now on antibiotics, which I pray would take effect right away. I can’t believe it, but it’s actually her first time to have cough. I actually feel guilty cause she probably got it from me. But it’s another hard pill I need to learn to swallow: I can’t be her shield forever. I just pray that God would continue to protect her and give her good health. Because, really, a sick toddler is one heartbreaking sight.
Just in case you’re interested, I’ve written about my daughter quite a couple of times here on my newsletter. Here are some:
Before I end this, I would just like to acknowledge new followers and subscribers. The Filipino community here on Substack is growing and thriving, and I am happy to be a part of it. I look forward to diving into everyone’s content soon!
See you in my next dispatch!
Love from my side of the dining table,
Dominique
Primarily found in the Book of Psalms, selah is a word of Hebrew origin. Its precise meaning remains uncertain, but Bible scholars suggest it may signify a pause in the music during the recitation of a psalm, or that it could be a direction for the reader to pause and contemplate. I take it as an invitation to rest in God’s presence, reflecting on the goodness He has bestowed in my life—so much so that I chose to name my daughter after it.
The poems in A Quiet Unfolding revolve around the theme of healing, written by eight Filipino poets—namely Dawn Lanuza, Layla S. Tanjutco, KB Meniado, Kring Talladen, Romy P. Cruz, LAKAN TULA, and yours truly. This collection is actually a product of a call for submissions a soft landing posted in April of 2023. I was over the moon (and still very pregnant) when I found out that two of my poems were selected. You can buy the book here. Print copies are available upon request!
Congratulations on having your poems published! I hope your child feels better soon.