Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Had Your Back....For One Shot Wednesday...come on give it a shot.

When I was young I had your back              
by uneven steps on the sidewalk.
I’m sorry I stopped paying attention.
I had destinations.
I almost tripped over your broken back.
Then the dandelions pushed through
to see if I would look down.
I kicked the buds off their bases.
The cement was mine and I
didn’t notice the shin splints.
The wheels turned.
Skateboards and bicycles.
The bumps shot up my spine.
Then I got off the walk by
borrowing your car.
I left you by the side of the road.
I was center lined and selfish.
Things were said, better off dead.
Your broken back.
Your broken heart.

I’ve seen my kids stutter step
down the walk protecting
a spine of a mother kind.
When will they stop looking down?
Their mom wants them to look up…
to watch were they are going.
But I hope they look back
occasionally and see the curved
back they once protected.

For My Mother

7 comments:

  1. Your poem made me hug my mom...

    Thank you...

    Here is my one shot:
    musical whirlwind

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  2. Wonderful way to view motherhood, the skateboards and the sidewalk...it is our job to protect those we love...bkm

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  3. How we hurt the ones we love on our journey to gain adulthood and freedom...and still they love and protect us...

    Beautiful, Jerry.

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  4. Relatable, great work. Nailed it this time around. :)

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  5. Love it! what a great piece- plenty of detail
    images and movement.Thanks!

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  6. lovely words for your mom...hope my son writes something like this one day...

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  7. What a great reflection of childhood and youth. there's alot of growing up on the sidewalks of life

    Nice One shot

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