the longest day of the year

as we come up on the shortest day of the year

As the days grow dim
and shorter
I think of that time,
your eyes sparkling
in the setting sun --

confiding in me
how this was your
favourite evening
of the year,
the longest one --

and later,
as you
spit your venom,
and chased me
out of his life.

does he ever
wonder what
might have been
had his mother
not been
his wife?

Author's Note

There is a certain kind of woman who keeps even grown sons from happiness,
and a certain kind of son who lets that happen.

Reviews

[Delmar Cooper]

Clever, but I was confused by pronouns. Who chased whom?

[Lyn Anderson]

The mother, the subject of the poem, who was talking to the person in the poem, chased the person, out of the man's life.

[Delmar Cooper]

I begin to see, the butter beneath the tree is really Sambo's tigers. Delicious.

[Lyn Anderson]

Interesting. I will have to ponder on that thought.

[Lyn Anderson]

Well, in my view, Sambo's ending was a happy one. Not sure this is the case here.

[willweb]

I have known men like this, mom's apron strings tied tightly around. At times I feel sorry for them, and at times not. Nice piece KL, nice rhyming and theme. I like how you paired the two thoughts.

[Lyn Anderson]

Thank you, and yes, I feel sorry for him. He missed out on ME.:)

[willweb]

Then he was more dumb than I thought.

[NoelHC]

Enjoyed the rhyme scheme, this one is an interesting tidbit out of life.

[Lyn Anderson]

Thanks, I appreciate it, sometimes the old stuff just creeps in.

[therisa]

Ouch, KL. Your author's note, reminded me, of my mom's attempt to control my life, even though, at the time, I was, in my mid-thirties. My closing out, shut that down fast.

[Lyn Anderson]

It's surprising how many men are like this.

[therisa]

I know, a few of them.

[Matching Socks]

Ever read Sons and Lovers?
Yeah... Once you married you have to love and respect your mother but stand by your wife.
I see a lot of grown men do this.

[Lyn Anderson]

It's a weird thing some sons and mothers. This particular son I believe remains unmarried. Gee, I wonder why...

[Matching Socks]

Lol! :)
Ok, THAT guy. Yes I know the type.

[icelandicblue]

Oh this has one acerbic bite. Familial relationships can be so complex, so loving and sometimes so damaging. A very powerful piece of writing. The ending was perfection.

[Lyn Anderson]

Thank you very much. One of the hardest lessons I ever learned.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

always a tragedy when this happens...

"come home to mama" they just hang on with this Oedipus like jealousy....
interference to happiness...

[Lyn Anderson]

Yes, and last I heard, unmarried. This was 1994.