Thursday, September 3, 2026

A Ledger, a Father, a Child


Responding to 
Friday Writings #243: By the Numbers









We waited for one baby step,
one tooth, one word, and one birthday.
One became two, and two became four,
and soon came the first day of school.

We counted grades, scores, and years,
and counted our failure in each crush.
Then came paychecks, houses, and more,
and we kept counting what came next.

Now it is time to count eighty candles,
having mastered the art of counting.
We counted everything around us,
except the moments we were living.

Now I look back at the ledger,
wondering what I could not count—
the days we missed laughing together,
the hours we could have loved more.








9 comments:

  1. We can divide our lives down by numbers. Sharp, pointed and clinical. It's still just the one that we have. Nice write Suman 👏

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  2. That's how years grow numbers and regrets Beautifully expressed

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  3. Now I look back at the ledger,
    wondering what I could not count—
    the days we missed laughing together,
    the hours we could have loved more.

    A wonderful close Sumana! How nice to remember great friendships

    Hank

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  4. Poignantly said and all too true! Yes, it seems we are most often busily counting the days but missing the moments.

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  5. This was beautifully done. Thinking about the hours I could have loved more makes me want to stuff all my remaining hours with as much love as possible.

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  6. Life is busy and getting more so. What you say is experienced by so many. It is getting harder to survive.

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  7. What a wise reflection- I suppose we can't undo the numbers of the past but we can make the future ones add up - Jae

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  8. Sweet and poignant! There are always things we could have done better; I think we must turn the regrets into future improvements, and not repine too much.

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  9. Love this piece on things that are counted and those that are not countable.

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