~ Free-fall from the Edge ~

Parenting my young ladies sometimes is like ...being a mute lifeguard for the deaf from 100 yards away... " You bet I pray "

 

You struggle to navigate
your inner-mood
entangled by
the web of
outer-attitude

the pathway
from former days
is over-grown

Sis
you burned up all your bridges
long ago

so don’t go...
the race is longer that it looks
so run it slow

God left you here
with me
to lean upon

so dont go...
you’re not ready
to be killed
by what
you dont know

Everytime I turn my back
you're at the edge
circling
an escape
inside your head

I try to pull you back
yet let you be
free-falling

from the edge
just-out-of-reach
eternally

J. Hampton 2008

Blesssssssssssssssssssss

 

 

 

Author's Note

Parenting....should be an Olympic Sport

Reviews

[Mr. Deft Diction]

It's something that I've only seen...hopefully my daughter and her mother will never have to go thru that. There seems to always be that struggle b/w the two in those tough teenage years. Kids think they know it all, anyway. That's why we tell them to dream in the first place.

Keep doing what you do. Soon she'll understand.

Nice write. Great quote to start the piece. Flowing as usual. Keep scribing, mama.

[Ama May Cooper]

Very very meaningful and deep. Portrays a strong understanding of the endless struggles parents go thru to protect there children a very well written piece

[Emily Rose]

I am not a parent, but I'm sure you capture the spirit of it quite well if your words. I like the stop and starts and the free-form feel of it - it really adds to the message that you're getting across. It's a little scattered at points, but I'm quite sure that that's what you were going for - it's a nice effect. I'm actually reminded a little of Ferlinghetti - did he influence your style?

Great job!

[Carole]

Wow-I relate some what to this write in a different sort of way...We all have our trials with our kids. How many daughters do you have?? Very intuitive write, Jen! You know just how to say it! hugs, carole

[Gandré]

you're at the edge
circling
an escape
inside your head-------I liked this, those brassy bold girls we were too. parenting must be a hard job for the sucess of raising kids must somehow have too many variables and so the more parenting without the figure the less successful, you did a great poem on it, do your daughters read poetry, too? everything will be shown in a few :=). all will be perfect. last stanza said it, this going out of reach, it's only temporarilly. great job. I enjoyed it, for there is just releasing of thoughts but no frustration at all. Missed you.

[AK]

Olympic Sport indeed, something along the lines of a marathon. And just when you think you've made it to the finish... oops, here comes grand-parenting. Oi Vey!

[Li Li]

Many people try to paint the beautiful picture instead of revealing the "average" household. I think there comes the time when mother and child conflict like reversing pole magnets. In my eyes, I believe it's that feminine "divine". It's the most powerful force their is, so we can only expect to have those times when we disagree.

In the end, love is still known to exist. That is what will get each of you through the storm.

Love!

[TL Boehm]

amen to that. This is awesome poetry here, very 'spoken word' very heartfelt, I think my favorite is the first stanza, but you always put that fire into your work.
Wonderfully done.

[[untitled]]

Here, here!!! I couldn't agree more with your spin on parenting. What a nightmare it is and you have put that onto the page with gusto and courage...as always Jen. Your last stanza says it all, we have to let out the rope little by little until they are free falling and we need to allow them decide where they land.
Kudos Jen...terrific work.
Helen xxx

[Siddartha Beth Pierce]

This is a great poem about how we feel about our children and how we try to teach them along the way - well done. My one suggestion is I believe in the fourth stanza you mean to say - 'that race is longer than it looks' - otherwise a great endeavor - thank you. As a parent, I understand these words tenfold.
Light,
Siddartha

[Blackbirdsong]

For me you evoked the image of a mother bird trying to hold her fledgings back as they fight to test their wings. Even though that image isn't there in your writing, the feel of it is. The powerful, painful and loving struggle of that endless tug-of-war between parent and child, wisdom and eagerness, youth and experience is wonderfully and poignantly told here.

One tiny mistake - you're - "your at the edge"