Do You Remember?

Do you remember

the first time you held her in your hands?

When she took her first breath

before she shed her first tear?

Do you remember when she was so tiny

that you could barely feel her weight?

And her delicate frame filled up

just the palms of your hands?

Did you make promises to her

in the lullabies you sang?

As you rocked her and held

her close against your heart?

Did you tell her you would always

keep her safe from harm’s touch?

Did you thank god for placing her

into your hands?

What happens with the passage

of the hands upon the clock?

What happens to the bliss

and to the joy?

What happens to the tone

of the voice you speak in?

When did the look on your face

suddenly change?

 

Did you hear her crying deep

into the darkness of the night?

While she waited, begging

that you would come.

Did you hold her when the dreams

left her shaking and scared?

When so many nights

she just never went to sleep.

Do you know about the way

she turns her eyes down?

To keep from ever having

to meet their gaze.

Do you know about all of

 the times that she said yes?

Because of the anger that came

whenever she said no.

Do you know that even now

she is terrified of the dark?

And that she dreams of monsters

underneath her bed.

Do you know what she sees

when she looks into the mirror?

Do you remember the first time

you saw her face?

Ignorance is bliss for some,

for some the road to hell.

Judgment and choices

change forever in the blink of any eye.

Do you remember what you told her

the very first time she smiled?

Do you think any part of her

remembers that promise now?

 

 

 

Shared at dversepoets.com OLN

Also shared at Poets United for Mother's Day
there are many different kinds of mothers
this tale needs telling as well