Where Is The Boy?

Not quite autobiographical (not yet, at least!), but its a story about growing apart from your children as they get older; and of trying to recapture that closeness that existed when they were young.

Where is the boy with the blonde curly hair?
With eyes full of mischief and devil-may-care.
He was just now beside me, holding my hand.
But I no longer see him - I don't understand.

He seems to have vanished, and left in his place,
Is a teen with a permanent scowl on his face.
They do look quite similar, that's hard to ignore,
Though the teen needs me less than he used to before.

But when he was my baby, we were almost as one.
More like best friends than a father and son.
He told me his secrets, his dreams, and his fears.
He sought my embrace when his eyes filled with tears.

But now that he's older, it's hard to explain,
My efforts at closeness are met with distain.
And all of my questions are viewed as affronts,
And are answered in mono-syllabical grunts.

I know he still loves me; we're just growing apart,
But that gives no relief to the void in my heart.
So away with that teen who is dressed all in black,
Oh where is my baby? Oh please bring him back!

I know that it’s natural for children to grow,
But I just don't feel ready to let my child go.

And although that seems selfish, I simply don't care.
Please bring back the boy with the blonde curly hair.

Reviews

[Jonathan Brooks]

This is a really great poem! The juxtaposition between the teen and the boy with the blonde curly hair is fantastic and the images are easily relatable. I think everyone tends to grow apart from their parents as they seek independence and a place in the world, but I think they will "close the void" when they get a bit older.

[Revolutionary]

This poem touches me.I cried.I got a seven year old and I love seven.Seven is so much fun.I hate leaving him to go to work .I can not wait for the school bus to drop him off on my days off.It makes me mad when his grandpa takes him fishing on sunday and I can't go .I don't want to miss a day of seven

[.]

Gosh you have such a talent for telling a story! So true.

[A.Lee]

Aww. All of children are still little for now, but they do grow so fast...