you and me and her against the world

sometimes a song is a trigger

reminded:

a straight up rainbow
suspended
in a spring storm sky --

i breathe in the wind
and think of you,
your radiant face
under a summer sun
a halo of curls
laughing happily,
even as you fell down ...

it was you and me and her
as yet unborn;
us against the world.

i played along,
as the darkness
threatened --
applied the bandaids
and the warm hugs,
sheltered you both,
as much as I could.

it wasn't enough,
this thing now
i have to own.

forgive me daughters.
for I knew not then
what I came to understand.
a man can make a baby,
but making a baby,
can't make him
a man.          

Author's Note

Reviews

[Einstein Noodle]

the mother's love and protective spirit reflected in this poem touches me ...i think it is a strength and courage like no other .. i assume this antagonist was abusive ..but your poem kind of leaves that for the reader ..there are too many ways a man "walks away" leaving terrible pain and anguish behind ..but i take away the mother's love you address ..and my thoughts are many and comforting ..thank you for sharing KL .. glad i found this one.
E
ps. time to post anew isn't it?? :).

[Lyn Anderson]

Thank you for stopping by, I appreciate it. I did post a new one, I guess the feed shows up all my organising. I can't see it. I just work away.

[Einstein Noodle]

i will keep my eyes peeled for it Lips! ;)

[Lyn Anderson]

The poem is called inside the conversation

[Einstein Noodle]

just read it my friend .. adios for the day ..you be well ya hear!! ;)

[Relic]

Sadly, is a part of life for multitudes of woman. Some men only think for themselves. You worded this in a way that brings attention to the matter. If only more woman could see this and learn from it.

[Lyn Anderson]

Yes, if only ... and thank you for stopping in. ps I read your list. Do I have to bribe you to make a most picky about the apostrophe category????

[Relic]

haha, I'll add you if you like to that category?

[Lyn Anderson]

you know I shall hold the apostrophe queen title in perpetuity.:) Damn I miss Frieda. But, anyway, such is life. She was great at playing with apostrophes, and loved a little correction now and again.

[Relic]

I don't think she'll ever come back unless under another name.

You've been added. :)

[Lyn Anderson]

ha ha -- I am so appreciative of your perfectionist attitude and quips -- your sense of humour is very subtle and enjoyable.

[Relic]

hahaha. thanks so much.

[Zugzwang]

Wow...this is intensely personal and very powerful. I liked the gradual buildup of darkness to the stark disillusionment at the end. It made the poem really impactful.

[Lyn Anderson]

Thank you very much. And yes, most of what I write is very personal, even if it's about someone else.

[Zugzwang]

Well, I wouldn't have known! A testament to your prowess.

[Lyn Anderson]

Thank you. I am currently binging on your work and reviewing, as I am prone to do when I find a new interesting writer.

[Zugzwang]

Binge away, I'm busy procrastinating (as is often the case).

[Matching Socks]

I have songs that are triggers too. You remember the beautiful times and then wonder where things turned.
A beautiful poem KL.

[Lyn Anderson]

Thank you, yes, I appreciate the visits, my friend.

[Ruth]

KL, this wrenched my heart...deeply...fantastic wisdom and emotion used here and so very sadly true, excellent :)

[Lyn Anderson]

Thank you for your kindness.

[Glen Weimann]

Hi KL. Not the right word, but I thoroughly 'enjoyed' reading this. The background pathos and sadness pervade the whole piece, a little for me like Sting's Fields of Gold. I love the idea of us against the world - the idea of a loving tight knit fortress with love and protection inside. My guess is that folk can read this more than one way, especially as regards who the 'I' is in the poem. For me it's a father now bringing up the girls because the wife who 'fell down' is no more. He tried denial, but reality happened. I find this very poignant. As I say, even if your meaning was different from this, it just reads so nicely in a melancholy kinda style.

I like the song, especially the harmonies and the acoustic guitar. I'm into mixing demos at the moment for our amateur band and my head is full of options for instrumentation, so the mixer side of me is saying I don't like the piano as it's too chocolate box for me. But the harmonies are wonderful.

Best regards
Nigel

[Lyn Anderson]

Yes it definitely could be read that way. Thank you for your review.

[Shimmerbliss/CAF]

Absolutely beautiful song and poem...you tell about the experience with grace and honesty. This touches me deeply.

[Lyn Anderson]

Thank you for your kindness.

[Lydia Shutter]

Nor can it make him a Dad.....only special men can be Dads. Your daughters will see you as the strong woman you are and when they are older, they will thank you for your courage. We can not always see the obvious....because our hearts will not allow us to. Well written, KL. Lydi**

[Lyn Anderson]

Thank you for your thoughtful review.

[??????]

I liked the first it took me as a kid seeing someone of importance. It made a great deal of sense and well enlighten:)

[Lyn Anderson]

Thank you for your review

[barleygirl]

This is a very poignant statement about the state of families these days . . . often broken. You've showed us the pain, without assigning blame, only the observations of our broken humanity. Never having been a mom, you've allowed me to walk for a bit in those sacred slippers.

[Lyn Anderson]

Thank you very much. I appreciate it.