Bless

I bless every knuckle
bloody from beating the walls
caging me,

and every splinter earned
in repurposing wreckage,
so that my children might never know

this hollowness of being
unaware of yourself in the dark.



Song Choice: Dear Theodosia from Hamilton

Liner Notes for this Groove: This poem was created for the Weekly Scribblings prompt given at Poets and Storytellers United, Forward Movement.

36 comments:

  1. Wonderful what we can rise to for the sake of our children. I have something of a water phobia, in that I hate getting my face splashed or putting my head under when swimming. When I took my infants for their first swimming lessons, I ducked my head under and came up smiling confidently at them, just like all the other mums. It worked; they could play happily in and under the water.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I did a similar thing for my kids. LOL, I'm still not comfortable in the water, but they both know how to swim.

      Delete
  2. Ah, we mothers, always trying to make their lives better

    much❤love

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love the defiance, acceptance, and love spilling out of this one. It reads like a spell and a promise. Your children are very lucky.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am delighted that all that came through in a small space. Thanks!

      Delete
  4. Some things are definitely not meant to be passed on to our children.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh there are some traits that clearly pass on. But the toxic ones, yeah those can be left in the dumpster with other outdated ideas.

      Delete
  5. clear & concise. Great stuff, Rommy. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  6. This is nice, I could substitute being alone in an elevator with a woman taller than I am. My children don't know but Mrs. Jim, short, knows. Not near the hardships of an abused wife though.
    ..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hadn't considered that interpretation of it, but yes I could see how it could apply to people in that situation.

      Delete
  7. I join you in that exercise, Rommy. Short and beautifully full of incite.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ~~~ might make more sense if I spelled insight correctly???

      Delete
    2. LOL, no worries! I often misspell things when I'm in a rush and leave the thinking to spell check.

      Delete
  8. i can feel the strength in this poem, concise and powerful... you manage that power very well.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Life is a hard row to hoe, and teaching children to use the hoe correctly is the hardest. Excellent!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And watching them use that hoe correctly is an amazing feeling

      Delete
  10. Powerful. I am still thinking about the last line 'unaware of yourself in the dark.'

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've had a few people tell me that was an intriguing line.

      Delete
  11. what things mothers will do for their children!
    can feel the power and emotions in the poem.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Face down all the hard truths and burn down the pretty lies, yes indeed

      Delete
  12. I can relate how moving forward can lead to bloody knuckles. Powerful and punching poem, Rommy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Khaya. It would be a much better world if some changes didn't need to be hard fought for, but if they mean even a modicum more peace for our children's lives, then the fight was worth it.

      Delete
  13. Bless the injured knuckles but also give them time to rest and heal.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 100% agreed. Self-care is also an act of resistance.

      Delete
  14. WOW! This is raw and honest. Bravi

    ReplyDelete
  15. I picture the self-sacrifice, long hours, lost sleep (I could go on) that parents give so that their children could have it better than the previous generations.

    I've done all that in hopes that my boys could take care of us in our old age instead of shipping us off to the old-folk's home. Then I'm reminded of Soylent Green and I start to worry a little.

    As the bloodied knuckles tells me that you've broken free from the cage, I'd bet you'd bloody a few noses before letting your children be caged.

    ReplyDelete