Just sleep,
I’ll sit here,
I won’t make a sound while I watch you contentedly as the night rolls around.
I’ll glance past the dark, making sure you’re asleep, I want to keep you safe… even in your dreams.
Is that alright with you?
Go play,
I’ll be here,
I’ll watch you from this chair as you turn the corner and I can barely see the shine of your hair.
I’ll squint my eyes until you’re far from my sight, I want to keep you safe… even when you play.
Is that alright with you?
I’ll drop you off,
Eyes straight ahead.
Whispering, “be careful”, before you open the door, and when you walk away I’ll whisper it once more.
I can see you lighting up the world with your smile, I want to keep you safe… even if I’m not on your mind.
Is that alright with you?
I’ll cry when you leave,
I’m sure of that,
I’ll walk past your room and take a moment or two, closing my eyes to think of you.
I’ll smile and touch your door, I want to keep you safe… even when you’re away.
Is that alright with you?
I’ll smile.
I’ll laugh.
I’ll wipe my own tears, I’m overcome with all those motherly fears.
Stand under my umbrella, it’s big enough for us both, I want to keep you safe… every minute of the day.
Is that alright with you?
Letting go is so hard,
The pain takes a seat just so it can linger.
No worries, this umbrella will keep you from harm, me underneath it with my outstretched arms.
I’ll welcome you back, I always want to keep you safe… even when I can feel your embrace.
Is that alright with you?
I’ll smile,
I’ll cry,
I’ll remember,
I’ll live.
I’ll walk away when I need to…
I’ll hang around as long as I can…
I’ll let go and I’ll hold tight and we’ll dance that dance…
under my umbrella.
Is that alright with you?
This poem was sparked by the incredibly talented Pam Carlson , her doodle magic and her ever sparkling, kind, lovely self.
Lovely!
Thank you Pam… and thank you for all your wonderful pictures.
This made me cry!
This is a beautiful depiction of motherly love!
So sweet!
Thank you so much! What a great reaction!
Loved this Becky. And funny, just today I went to see my daughter at college, and toke her to lunch. It was raining, and as we walked, I held my umbrella over both of us. Your words touch my heart.
Sweet Sue. Thank you so much for your kind words.
You touched a heart in this old man. You should consider sending that to Readers Digest.
Wow… Thank you booguloo (young man). I’ve never submitted to Readers Digest… hmmm.
Love your poem! Hopefully, you will post it again on “Mother’s Day.”
Thank you! I thought about Mother’s Day and then thought I might have something else up my sleeve for that… 🙂
Hello.
Very touching…reminds me of when, as an innocent teenager who had never set foot on a plane before, I left my mother’s care & keeping at 17 to live in the US.
Nothing can compare to a mother’s love. Beautifully expressed.
Thanks for sharing.
Thirsting For Your Love
Thank YOU for this… I’m so touched by your comment.
I seem to always say SAME thing when it comes to your writing! But ABSOLUTELY amazing ! Love it !
Oh, thank you Mr. Watson. I will take that compliment from you any day!
Just beautiful. Thank you for sharing this one with us.
Thank you for reading and commenting… I’m always surprised when I get comments.
Your use of the umbrella as metaphor is grand.
Cheers,
Mark Butkus
Thank you… I was absolutely inspired by Pam’s wonderful doodle.
Absolutely wonderful – as I take my daughter to the airport this weekend, I will say all these things to myself.
Most telling of all is the constant asking “Is that all right with you?” Bespeaks respect for your kids. Did I already say this was wonderful?
I wish I had written it, thanks, Mosk
Thank you Mosk! I hope your trip to the airport wasn’t all sad and had some bright spots in it.
I love this poem so much more than I how much I hate carrying around umbrellas in real life!
xoxo
Ha! That made me laugh. (I never carry an umbrella either, I would have to find one somewhere in my house if I really needed it). xoxo
smiles…this is innocent and playful…def like the constant asking of if its alright…under the umbrella speaks of protection for me as well…and keeping safe…
Yes… it is something so simple, holding an umbrella but feeling that protection.
Thank you!
this speaks volumes to me with my daughter having just left for another 4 weeks to la paz.. looooong flight…munich…london..miama…la paz…all on her own…oh i wished i could’ve held that umbrella to protect her…smiles
Wow… 4 weeks (hugs).
But, wow, what a trip she is having, she’ll always remember it.
..and of course i meant miami…
😉
This is so touching Becky! I still want to keep mine safe–they are 25 and 22 now–and your piece reminded me of all those feelings–
I don’t think, as parents… as mothers, that we ever lose that desire to protect — we just have to get the dance of holding on and letting go right.
Very touching indeed and great capture of the moment, sometimes that umbrella just has to come down.
Right… that’s our role as parents, I think. To love, to teach, to listen, to learn.. to let go but be available. Phew… that’s a lot.
“Letting go is so hard,
The pain takes a seat just so it can linger.”
indeed it does! nice pen!
Thank you Kellie!
Re-read this, loved it even more, and yes, I am also a parent who says “Be careful” when I say “bye”.
Beautiful expression of love 🙂
Thank you so much!
So sweet and right on target. Loved it.
Thank you… I’m not sure it’s often something sweet comes out of me (in my poems anyway) so I’m happy to capture it when it does.
This is such a perfect expression of motherly love…the greatest human expression of God’s love, I believe.
Thank you Victoria… that is a lovely thing to say.
No, I would guess that to the child it is not alright with them. But that is what mothers do.
I love you “motherly” poems. Gives me a nice look into motherhood.
Hugs, B!
Thank you Terre. I’m not sure my motherly techniques are very conventional but, it seems to be okay. 🙂
this is one of my favorites of your poems, b! and i understand what you’re saying ~ i don’t think i’ll EVER stop wanting to keep my daughter safe, even though she’s grown.
*Love* & *Giant Sparkly Squishy Hugs*
♥
Thank you Dani! And thanks for the blog shout out. 🙂
This was wonderful and made me cry. I remembered all the times I wanted to protect my son and my fear that I wouldn’t be able to. I remember coming home from having worked 24 hours straight and my son was in a cast. He’d broken his left arm and my mother hadn’t wanted to worry me, so she’d taken care of it. I was angry, because I felt it was my right to take care of my son. I started crying and just held on to him and kept apologizing for not being there and for having failed him. He just hugged me and said, “You’re silly mom, you can’t be here all the time.” That hurt, because I wanted to be with him all the time and to be the one to protect him.
He finally moved out and he’s buying his own home, I’m having nightmares that something’s happened to him and I’m not there. I know it’s way past time to let him go, but that doesn’t mean I can’t keep an eye on him from a distance. He will always be my little boy. Be blessed!
We can’t be there all the time and here’s what I think… if we are constantly available (physically) to our kids, what we’re really teaching them is that my life (our lives) as mothers is less important. I’m not sure that makes sense, but I think, in order for our kids to learn that we are people who love them, they have to know that we have lives too.
Thank you for your comment on my site…I can so relate to this poem!
I have two little ones myself and…You know, I don’t have to enplane, your poem did it for you.
Thank you! Sometimes, as my kids get older, I get all motherly (much to their dismay!)
i like the umbrella as a metaphor
senryu of blues & honesty
Thank you!