If I Had Only Known Then

For Given

 

If I had only known it then

I would have held you on my lap

And read that book from start to end

Forgetting it was time to nap.

 

The whole day long we’d sing and play,

If I had only known it then.

I would have held tight to that day

Now only a memory of when…

 

So many last times came and went

My love for you though never spent.

If I had only known it then

My time with you could now begin.

 

The secrets I would never miss.

The bloody knees that I would kiss.

I wish I had that time again

If I had only known it then.

Author's Note

I wrote this with the kyrielle style in mind. It has a sliding refrain and yes, I know that I took some liberty with it. The poem is about my son, soon to be 17, and so close to my heart, but some how so distant in his own life.

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

A excellent poem. Our children grow so quickly. I spend all my free time with my children. Now I'm happy I did. Not much time for the old people now. Many strong lines made this a sad and beautiful poem to read. Thank you.
Coyote

[Christopher Todd Dallas]

I recommend changing it to free verse while keeping the refrain of, "If I had only known it then." Use the refrain in between stanzas perhaps.
I remind myself every night that my daughters will not be young forever and I have to hold onto them kicking and screaming every minute.
Time moves rather quickly and there should be no regrets.

[Alicante lullaby]

lovely,,,i can't relate to the idea of seperating from parents in teen,yet perhaps this would be what mothers here feel when their daughters are gone to susraal'husband's home',,,,a very tender write,,,,,shows you beaming with love for your son,,,did you show it to him,,,

[Eternally Elemental]

I'm 19 and the youngest of us kids is 18 and they have just left school and my mum was really emotional.

The kissing of the bloody knees was my favourite part. I still give the same cuddles to my mum. Only now she is smaller than me hahaha.

We owe a lot to our parents that show us love throughout our upbringing. We forget. But eventually we remember. I never want to forget, because if I do I know I will remember when it is already too late.

It makes the reader look back on things they wish they had done better. Even though it may have been done well we always want something beyond what we can give or do.

Love the sentimentality. Good to reflect on in regard to our relationships.

[Lizanne]

This is a beautiful poetic work! Any parent can relate to what you so charmingly say with your talented pen. And you so wisely state what we all have thought "If only I had known it then." This is a "feeling" work. You wrote so well that the reader feels the sadness of letting go of their child's youth. Love this!

[Alice Oiseau]

Awww, Honey, this is a beautiful poem. Though I can't relate since I'm no mother, but I have felt regrets of sorts, though probably nothing close to how this feels.
Just wait till he goes off to college ;) He'll love coming home to you and having something to eat besides ramen.

Touching poem, Honey!

[Jibey]

This is a delightful piece of writing - and I'm sorry to have missed it earlier.... How well you capture the feelings of a mother, wanting to live it all over again... but life moves on and often the regrets are just feeling we have... the reality is the present and we can do something about it. You will grow close to him again in time and he will appreciate how you mopped his bloody knees...

[cilla]

I think this is a beautiful and loving poem ... with bonus points for the kyrielle format. While I don't have a mother's experience, as a child I can remember growing up, growing away from and growing back together. It is part of life's journey and you have much to look forward to.

[J. Alexis Balaguer]

Hello Honey.
This poem has touched my heart. Truly regret is sad--more so that of a mother to her son.

Wishing you all the best,
Punishment

[BABSIE BEE]

If,if and if !! We all say that at some time in our life wishing we could turn the clock back to our childrens first few years of life !! We never know how they will turn out....we just do our best. They choose roads themselves, to travel, as they approach adulthood, and it's difficult to stand back. You have so sweetly said all of the above with a sense of longing thrown in. Thanks so much for sharing.
Babsie xx