Granddaughter sparks poetry by granddad

When his granddaughter Caroline was born seven years ago, Ronald Leonard of Niskayuna decided to write some poems about her.

As his youngest granddaughter grew into a toddler and then a pre-school-er, he observed and wrote about the simple discoveries of childhood she experienced, such as learning how to climb the stairs, what was in her toy basket and playing the piano with Grandpa.

When she started school, he continued his verses about the joy she found in simple pastimes: flying a kite or going barefoot on a warm summer day.

Some of his efforts appear in a self-published book of poetry, "Caroline, Caroline, What Are You Thinking?"

Memories

"It started the day after she was born," Mr. Leonard said of his poem writing. "The nurse was holding Caroline's little body with one hand and pounding her back with the other trying to clear her lungs. I asked myself, 'Caroline, Caroline, what are you thinking?'"

That infant, Caroline McGraw, is now a second-grader at St. Helen's School in Niskayuna.

"It was the simple things that were an inspiration to me," he said. "I began to understand that, to a child, each new life experience is a miracle."

In own hands

At the urging of his wife Margaret, Mr. Leonard compiled his poems into book form. After contacting numerous publishers and prospective agents who didn't seem interested, he decided to publish the book himself.

He contacted an artist, Don Berry, who agreed to illustrate the book. With the help of a public relations firm, his family and friends, Mr. Leonard established Lionheart Press, and his book became a reality.

He has been writing poems for about 40 years and has penned 70 about Caroline, but only ten appear in the book.

Time to watch

As a grandparent, Mr. Leonard has more time to spend with his granddaughter than he did with his children.

"We visit the family often, and I've had opportunities to spend time with her, doing some of the activities with her that I've written about," he explained. "The poems were all written out of love. My hope is that the book will help other grandparents and parents to enjoy their children and grandchildren while they are still young.

"There is a lot to learn from these young people and their new experiences."

(The book is available at The Book House at Stuyvesant Plaza in Guilderland, at www.amazon.com and at www.carolinebooks.com.)

(01/24/08) [[In-content Ad]]