If this is the last advice I give to you,
then please my son, listen to me carefully:
when the time comes for you to go your own way
attached to a woman’s heart, be sure you don’t lose the path,
take a detour and follow part of it without her hand.
A woman’s heart holds her hopes, her desires and dreams.
If you really love her, treat it well and with great care,
for once it’s broken, the hurt may damage the most tender moments
between you and her.
Don’t try to know everything that she feels,
for a woman has been made of a different clay;
her strength is immense, and she can endure more physical pain
than most men could believe.
No, don’t try to pretend you can understand her moods
when hormones go up and down, or when she cries
for things you find banal.
But, you my son, be the kind of man I wish for your sister,
and even though you don’t understand the whys and hows,
with affection you can comfort her and
make sure she doesn’t feel alone and abandoned.
If I may say one more thing and maybe the most important of all,
never let anger get out of hand, don’t say words that you will regret,
don’t raise your hand to cause her pain; and if ever,
for some reason, love comes to an end,
cherish the time you had with her,
and make the good and loving memories soothe the pain.
Author notes
sorry if it's too long, actually, no, I don't feel sorry for it 
JFTJOI
A contest entry
- So amazing : Lucille Clifton by Peteskid.
1800 points, ended February 28, 11 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
1 - 9 of 9
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Yes, you have touched upon the things that all mothers hope for their sons to learn about us, the things I have found myself wrestling to impart in increments with my boys as the years have come and gone. They are still rather young, but even early on, I have emphasized how to treat women, how to perceive women, how to interact with women. I mean, is there anything in life more important for a man to know???? lol. We can't fail them in that!
Beautiful heart and connection in these lines, Mari.
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Ah, Mariza,
we see the love shining here,
the glow of Mother's wishes
passed on with caring wisdom.
Wondrous!
M-C
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"Don’t try to know everything that she feels,
for a woman has been made of a different clay;
her strength is immense, and she can endure more physical pain than most men could believe."
i love this part, this is excellent -- a beautiful poem from mother to son...lovely words & important thoughts to give and share with him...
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It's lovely. I will send you an IM with some suggestions. I know, you don't want them, but I'm still sending it anyway, But it does have those Mariesque flourishes I've come to know.
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Gaze, this is really beautiful. Wouldn't it be nice if all mother's took the time to speak to their children of both genders as openly and eloquently as you have here and imparting such wisdom as well. I think there would be many more happy couples living in the world.
So many things we take for granted in life as "a given" when in actuality they're not. I always try to keep those lines of communication open with my two teenage daughters.
Lovely write
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Thanks Pix, yes, communication is very important. I have Tess who is 16 and Tom 19, with both I try to give the best advice, and make them understand what I mean. I guess that is all we can do, talk to them and hope that our words stay in their minds
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My two are 15 and 18...the oldest leaving for college in the fall.
It's been a series of letting go little by little through the latter teenage years, hoping we've done our jobs in preparing them for life in the adult world.
We offer them our best guidance and will be there to celebrate their successes and stand by their sides if they find themselves detoured and have to learn some lessons the hard way. Whichever side I'm on, I'm just glad to be there, although some tough lessons lately have been a little challenging...lol. -
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You couldn't have said it better!!!
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We teach and we hope they learn, we teach again...but what of that last opportunity to plant the seeds of wisdom gained through our lives. here it is explored with a voice of firm but patient wisdom, so telling here...a man such as for your sister... put him in another's shoes, personify the woman into the human being as worthy of respect as those already held dear. There is a voice here that steps across lines of age and posiiton to simply state truth about some very important things. Excellent. Thank you for this fine entry into the contest and best of luck in the judging...PK
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