Eighteen years
I have been a voyeur to your life
watched you take your first step
fall over and skin knees
observed birthday parties until you outgrew them
saw your first kiss
witnessed your first driving lesson
all from this hole in the fence
which I carved the day you were born
and I was forced to give you away
at my families demand
too young; a child myself
the hole shaped like a heart
with a break down the middle
as mine did and continues to do
every day I live without hearing those words
‘I love you mum’
Author notes
Poem sparked by the contest picture
A contest entry
- Do What You Do Best by Errant Panther.
450 points, ended September 18, 2008, 12 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
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great write that expresses love and regret extremely well, the hole in the fence being a metaphor for watching a child grow from afar. interesting take on the prompt.
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