My child, grow as you would hope to be.
I am here, washing the dirty linen
and the soiled clothes thinking of you.
Who can tell? That the world in the future,
its circumstances be better. But I pray
that you may have the strength to face
each day with courage and dignity-
of choosing what is true and honest.
Defending what is right over wrong,
uncompromising to the virtues that I
am going to teach you. Please listen.
I am not the best and I am not perfect.
And I dream for you my child, a life anew.
Realizing the chance to fulfill the purposes
destined for you. Keeping steer of the pitfalls
I have done. Make a difference of your own.
Striving the very best that you can.
Standing up for what you believe in.
Though you may fall, there will always be
a chance to pick yourself up, to stand again.
Never quit. Never fear. God be with you.
And I hope you learn from my mistakes.
The misjudgment I did when I was
once a child like you. Growing up too.
Through my adulthood, deciding to love
another being and brought you along
amidst the pain, the hurt and the turmoil.
May it be- your life like these soap suds
clearing away the dirty traces of my past,
vanishing all the fears that I had before.
Starting the days wearing clean clothes.
Solitude Amidst the Maddening Crowd
What a truely heartfelt and truthful poem Marvin! I hope that whoever you wrote that poem for reads those words of love and wisdom and treasures them for ever! It seems ages since you last wrote a poem – but the wait was well worthwhile!
dear lynda,
thanks for the wait. this poem is something that came as i am pondering about family. and the expectations that never were. i see myself as those of fathers and mothers who in their silent moments of moving through this life, hopes the best for their children. and the hours spent in doing these mundane tasks at home is a perfect time thinking through about the future. i am thankful that you appreciate this poem. i am so glad about it.
i hope the best for you.
Very heartfelt and powerful Marvin. It is good to see you back after so long.
I wish we all could get such wonderful wisdom before we make certain mistakes. Beautiful poem as always Marvin. Keep writing!
dear deadpoet,
once again, thank you for keeping through reading my poems. i have been so busy lately at work. yes, i agree with what you said, if only we had the chance to hear these words but as a child we are busy hurrying up with the world. i dont think we can comprehend the amount of wisdom the grown-ups have to say. only to find out that they are right all along.
thank you for saying what’s on your mind on this one.
I like how you thought these things while you were washing dirty linen. Double meanings going on, here. I see a parent’s heartfelt promise to his child and an apology for what he feels his shortcomings might be. Beautifully written, Marvin.
dear leslie,
yeah, you are right. it is a heartfelt promise and an apology. i love how you describe the sentiments i am trying to express on this poem. thank you for the nice words. my appreciation goes to you. all the best.
This has a lovely flow and sentiment. I like the way you have related it to washing and the last line is the perfect ending. Children mostly don’t listen to what the adult is saying but they are keenly interested in the fact that we are saying something to them – that we care enough to say something; and when they grow up some of the messages even get through.
dear gabrielle,
i am happy to know that you like this poem. thank you for your appreciation and kind words. i penned these words for the future generation. i am also hoping that when i get married and have kids, i hope they find their way reading this one. what a lovely surprise would that be!
i just hope that some of the things i want to say would sink in and make an anchor into their being and turn out to be beneficial for them. children are the hope of our future. i believe that they are our best bet for change. may you have all the reasons to be happy, always.
Hi Hames.
Long time no speak. I’ve been off the radar a bit lately myself. It feels good to be back!
…I don’t have children so this spoke to me as a child, a daughter, rather than as a parent. It really made me grateful for all the wonderful things my parents did (including the washing)! Sometimes my parents call me ungrateful and this really hurts. But I guess it’s only when you ARE a parent that you truly realise just how much goes into the job. A great poem. Time to give Mum and Dad a call!
dear susie,
wow, thank you so much. to start with, i am still not married and without children. but like i said, this poem is a preparatory poem for my children, as a way of telling them the fundamental things they should know how i am feeling at this time. i am also reminiscing how i am once been ungrateful of the hardships my parents went through just to let me live the best that i can. i could not thank them enough for their generosity and sacrifice for me through all these years. i am happy to inspire you making that call to your mom and dad. i am most humbled.
I read this as wishes for a future child. Maybe a real child, maybe a mind child, maybe a heart child. They are all within us.
Beautiful poem, as ever.
🙂
dear val,
wow, thank you for your multi-dimensional interpretation. simply fantastic! i still believe that there is still a small child in all of us, that needs to be heard once in a while.
godspeed.
This is a great poem. You have become a true master of translating layered and complex things, reflecting layered and complex thoughts in transparent, moving and lucid images! It’s always a great joy to read your work.
dear eelco,
the pleasure is mine and thank you for your kind praises for my poetry. if i may add to what you have observed, i like to do poems in an easy to understood language but deep in meaning and poetic content. this poetic style i am trying to hone as a craft by the works of emily dickinson, sara teasdale and carol ann duffy. i am becoming a male version of them.
what a joy to read this comment of yours.