LLLI ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION
| POEMS WRITTEN BY ALUMS
To Scott at Sixteen (And One Month)
Susan
Switzer, Georgia USA
January,
2002
Gone are the
days, when safe in my arms, you blissfully nursed your fill
Gone are the nights when, snuggled in bed, you sleepily nursed at will Gone
is the babe whose every need was met in his mother’s
arms
Who wooed her and won her and earned his keep with nothing but baby charms Gone
are the firsts - first teeth, first steps, first words and
crayon art
Gone from all but the Baby Book - yet etched in a mother’s heart Gone
are the years spent close to home keeping Mom at her tasks
in sight
Or shyly visiting his best friend’s house, but refusing to spend the night Years spent learning
to run and ride, to throw and kick a ballTo bounce back
up and dust himself off after a nasty fall
Gone
are the boo boos needing the kisses that Mommy would impart
Healed and forgotten ‘neath fresh new skin - but etched in a mother’s heart Gone
is the boy who proudly greeted Mom when she came to class
To read favorite stories, eat lunch with his friends and answer the questions they’d ask Gone is the boy
who, growing fast, for years was not too proud
To cuddle in bed with Mom each night for a cherished read aloud Gone
are the days and nights and years, as all times must depart
Gone from the view of the casual observer - but etched in a mother’s heart Now before me
stands this tall young man who shaves and asks to driveAnd
chafes at the rules as he eagerly waits for his day of freedom
to arrive
When
he’ll
come and go with no constraints, responsible only to himLive
as he pleases, do as he chooses, indulging every whim
Yes,
you’ll
soon be grown and on your own and perhaps we’ll be far
apartBut you’ll always be here
- both tall and small - etched in this mother’s heart.
__________
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