In My Daughter's Eyes

The revolving genetic door...

 

I remember when I was young

No more than seventeen

Being so sure that I would never

Treat my children

The way my mother treated me

 

I would never be unkind, or impatient

I would teach my children anything

They were willing to learn

And most importantly of all

I would never raise my voice

 

And then I had my daughter

And everything I thought I knew

Gave way to sheer survival instinct

When I found my daughter looking back at me

Through my mother’s eyes

 

I saw the same stubbornness

The same willfulness

The same intelligence

It took me a while

But then I realized

That it was not my mother’s eyes

But my own that were looking back at me

 

And I realized

That we had come full circle

And that in my efforts

To keep my daughter

From growing up

To be just like me

I had become

Just like my mother

 

And suddenly, that wasn’t

Such a bad thing after all

Because I have a daughter

Who is strong, and beautiful

And determined to be

Everything that I never was

 

And I pray that one day

She finds herself

By looking in her daughter’s eyes

Reviews

[Windy]

Oh the memories you bring... I wonder if we all feel the same? This is a well written poem with a very good point! I really enjoyed reading it. Maybe someday one or more of my girls will get to look into their daughters eyes and see themselves, it would be a beautiful thing. I think a couple of them are already seeing themselves (and me) in their little boys eyes! Great job, really excellant enjoyable read. Thank you. :)

[Succubi]

This was truly heartwarming. I love how you imply the overcoming of struggles by learning from your past, living in your childhood to make the future better for both yourself and your child. This was a great piece...it truimphants over struggles, and truly shows the concept of what does not kill you only makes you stronger...

[Rodney Russ]

Very nice poem. It makes you think how similar we are to our parents. We can't avoid that reality no matter how hard we try. They live in us and our children will live in us.

[KAREN BROWN]

this was very well put. You have a way with words,of how your feeling.you did a good job i really liked it a lot.

[Deborah Leah Krempa]

A very beautiful heartfelt poem. Thank you for sharing. Debileah

[BenightedWhispers]

How beautiful. The potent words and emotion blew me away. Great job keep it up.

[silent[rain]]

This is such a powerful and emotionally moving piece...It is such a beautiful poem! Great Work!