Bed time stories

Father gave, gave, gave
and mother broke everything in half
like dishes, like love.
Like the house in which they grew your body,
watered it like a starving plant.

By the time you had finally outgrown them,
they could no longer fool you with stories
about the moon as a portrait
in the night sky’s frame,
the arms of a cherry tree like a ballerina’s.

That was the time when you learned
that sometimes,
dying means unlive but it never leaves the body.
The time when your childhood became a bruise
that would never be touched again.

And father kept giving and mother
was broken,
and the world was no longer beautiful.

Reviews

[AliciaB]

This is a beautiful, sad, and haunting piece of poetry. A lot of the images are too obscure to understand their entire meaning, but I can tell that they definitely come from some intense individual experiences. Unique examples like "the moon as a portrait / in the night sky’s frame" and "the arms of a cherry tree like a ballerina’s" demonstrate the very personal nature of these memories. The lines about dying and about childhood being like a bruise are also powerful and sad. The final stanza is the most moving and heartrending of all. Overall, very nicely written. You have done an excellent job of developing the tone of this poem. Great work!

[anne]

Thank you so much for your kind words! It means a lot.

[Planet x]

It's the third Poem I read , your poem
And there is one world that keeps pop up , Body

I wonder why

[Usman Muhammad]

Very much pleased to read a poem like this, which describes our childhood in true picture.
rythematic folw of the poem is what interested me most and ending was beautiful and sad at the same time
Please keep on writing. Would be looking forward to read your other works

[anne]

Thank you so much! This means a lot to me.

[Chris]

many levels of thought flow within this... and life experience as well

[anne]

Thank you for reading!

[Ted Kniffen]

Too many experience childhood this way, but too few write about it with such understanding. Sometimes one gives and the other, for whatever reason, can't. An oft related story of relationships, but told in a great style.
Good writing. Keep it up.

[anne]

Thank you!!

[Andrew Nelson Stewart]

" The moon as a portrait in the sky's frame", beautiful and unique allegory. A mothers love is the love that will never be broken no matter how many times she had fallen in a world of changes. This poem's guidance leads you to unknown territory and asking if you can stay longer. Realizing you can and each poem you write brings you to a unknown place which will be there forever cause you created the gate to get there. Keep writing and felt the emotions and compassionate love casting stone arms upon his beloved and pain leaving an imprint on your childhood. But seeing the Narrator in this poem is a warrior and never will leave in despair but learning from it. Poetry is life and is written on our bones if we choose to crave our names in stone. Anne well done and keep knowing you are the universe and you are powerful. Sincerely your friend in poetry Andrew Nelson Stewart

[anne]

Oh wow thank you so much for your beautiful words! This means so much to me. Thank you.

[Andrew Nelson Stewart]

I'm glad and I let souls know what I see in them. Spreading kindness and love . Keep being Awesome.