For more poetry, Ride the Poetry Train!
The Sheer Terror
I listen
I listen to two friends
I listen to two women
Two mothers
They worry
They worry with their mother’s hearts
They worry over their teenaged children
Their children
Nothing to worry about, I say
They sound like wonderful kids, I say
Remember what you did, I say
Remember when you were their age
That’s when panic rises in their mothers’ hearts
That’s when they remember the things they never shared
But aren’t you sitting here today? I say
They will get through it, I say
That’s easy for me to say, with my woman’s heart
Easy to say with my friend’s heart
I will never know the sheer terror of their mothers’ hearts
- Julia Smith, Jan. 10, 2010
Ms Snarky Pants says I was a rather boring teenager. Angsty and goth, but I didn't drink or do drugs or anything exciting like that.
Kelly Boyce says Its so much easier to give other people advice on their lives than to take advice on our own. :)
Andy Sewina says Phew, Julia, my boy's sixteen and I'm worried sick about him, if he's only half as bad as I was at that age, he's in BIG trouble!
That would evoke no horror in me. I was a rather boring teenager. Angsty and goth, but I didn't drink or do drugs or anything exciting like that. hehehe
ReplyDeleteIsn't that always the way? Its so much easier to give other people advice on their lives than to take advice on our own. :)
ReplyDeletePhew, Julia, my boy's sixteen and I'm worried sick about him, if he's only half as bad as I was at that age, he's in BIG trouble!
ReplyDeleteTimely thought provoking piece!
Hope to see you at The American Sandwich game.. soon and btw, did I tell you that The NaiSaiKu Challenge? is back Online too!
This poem articulates well how it feels to want to reassure friends with children, knowing you'll never truly experience that level of fear. It's a tricky position I find myself in often. Thanks for sharing the poem.
ReplyDeleteAll too timely. My boys are 16 and 13. Both are venturing into dating, via texting for the most part. The oldest has a friend who's already had sex with at least one girlfriend, and that drama is excruciating to behold. The younger has at least one friend who is already into drugs.
ReplyDeleteI'm praying hard, politely probing, and offering a sympathetic, no-unsolicited-advice-offered ear . . . often.
Thanks for sharing this poem.