She said
she didn’t want him
many would like him
Many might want him
he might find a family
but –
what would he want?
Tag: mother
I don’t play, I work
I am 8 years old
I dream of
flowers in my hair
dolls in my lap
fancy frocks to wear
a story book to read
enough food to eat
hugs from my father
kisses from my mother
pats from my teachers
but I don’t play
I work
tending to others flower
at the factory
mending dolls
stitching frocks
stapling story books
packing food
all accounted for
by the supervisor
a slight mistake
a slap across my face
stings the bones underneath
tears burn my cheeks
and blood tastes funny
what else can I do
I get no hugs
nor kisses
nor pats on my back
it’s heavy on my shoulders
but I have a world to carry
so I swallow my own blood
I have to finish here
to avoid
another slap
His problem?
Experience, his friends told him
experiment, he did
that’s how the coloured pills
found their way into his life
one pill, it started
two pills
three pills
wasn’t too much
a score pills weren’t enough
an argument with his mother
he swallowed some pills
an F in school
he swallowed some pills
a rift with a friend
he swallowed some pills
for any reason
but there were no reasons
to swallow the pills
were the reasons for
bright brown eyes now watery red
athletic body now shriveled
had strength to
break his piggy bank
forge his fathers signature
wonder aimlessly in shadows
falling into gutters
receding into the sanctuary
of more pills and other forms
made him see above the clouds
now he had his head in the ground
ultimately
when found dead
his problem, said people
A second set of footprints in the sand
They hold hands
walking towards the east
by the river
they wade barefoot into the shallow river
he looks at her and reaches out
kisses her and wades further
she turns back
sees two sets
of footprints in the sand
leading to where they stood
she knows this time the waves
won’t wash away one set of footprints
She looks after him
thankful
to the divine powers which gave him
into her embrace
her savior
he held her on drunken nights
wiped her tears on teary nights
smiled at her on difficult days
telling her he always loved her
he sat by and with her
through sleepless nights
She is suddenly jerked from her thoughts
as she feels water on her skin
she turns back
to look into a mischievous face
he laughs mad
she pulls him into her arms
kisses him
“I love you, darling.”
he touches her face,
“I love you too, Mommy.”
and wades into the river again
laughing
[Sequel to FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND.]
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