first word

and so it begins

hush.

transitive verb

onomatopoeic (/ˌänəˌmadəˈpēik/)

back-formation 

from middle english hussht,

“interjection used

to enjoin silence.”

hush.

is my grandson’s first word

at 13 months;

imperative,

comprising a complete sentence

when ending in a period or exclamation mark.

hush.

as whispered by a quiet old lady,

as rhymed with bowl full of mush

as found in goodnight moon,

(margaret wise brown, may 23, 1910 – nov. 13, 1952).

margaret grew up in the greenpoint neighborhood of brooklyn,

an imaginative child who loved adventure and the outdoors;

to die young, still curious.

hush.

why, sweet boy

that word, in your gathering universe of language?    

hush.

silence duly enjoined,

we wait for you

to live it into your own context.