O son of mine, how oft wilt thou resist
the fair correction of thy mother dear,
this misbehaviour, if it doth persist,
will drive thee from our castle, this I fear.
Thy doublet, see how thou hast left it here,
and on that chair thy dirty hose are draped,
thy books and papers litter all the year,
the fam'ly prayers thou often hast escaped.
Thy friends are evil, running in a pack,
in mischief from the dawn unto the dark,
and thou art heedless of thy wealth or lack,
thy future will be thus, I must remark.
What are the modern children coming to?
When we were young we had a better view.
.
Author notes
Written June 1st, 2004
In a list
A contest entry
- Wherefore art thou? by Jobob.
500 points, ended June 17, 2004, 9 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 26 of 26
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Oh! this one goes back, and I've read it before, but what strikes me in the reading this morning is the innocence of youth lost, and the guileless natures of very small children. I only blinked and mine were so worldly.
You cleverly and simutanelously portray how some things never change throughout time and how some things do. Experience is a wonderful teacher, but mothers have a built-in radar. My mom was a 5th-grade teacher, and she always told her students she had eyes inthe back of her head! I knew she did when it came to brother and me.
I smile reading this again.
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This is one of my very early ones, Karen. My elder son was 13 and left his socks in the living-room! Things don't change that fast.
Thanks for browsing the archive. 
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A wonderfully honost and so typical a view of our youth today. Problem is, I suppose much of the time our parents might have spoken the same words about us! (or at least of me - perhaps you were a little angel). The Sonnet is perhaps my favorite of all forms of poetry, and you did a wonderful job with this.
Moses
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Thank you Moses - the problems of parents and children do not change, youth is what it is, it seems. My sons are just as messy as I was, another case of apples landing near the tree.
I love sonnet form, thank you for appreciation.
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This poem sure struck home. Words of experience for many a mother and son, I fear.... I'm reminded of the quip that it's surprising how much smarter parents have become by the time their offspring become parents, too.
"thou art heedless of thy wealth or lack,
thy future will be thus"
I can't even smile wryly at the above quote from your poem. It's all too true in some instances.
Experience, however, can be such a good teacher, especially when sons don't want to hear words of wisdom!
love,
K
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Thank you Karen, I think most boys leave things around and care more for today than tomorrow. My 16 year old needs motivating all the time!
Can't complain too much, his are little problems.
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LOL I truly love this. Had I had a copy of this years ago, it might have helped me get my children to clean up their rooms!
Wonderful, Margaret! hugs, Patricia
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Thanks Patricia, this one was fun to write as well.
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I love this sonnet, rhyme and form are perfection. I will bookmark it to refer to along with your column to help me with the old english. This has such a lovely victorian mood about it, with the reprimand and language working together. I love it.
Edited on Dec 07, 3:52 p.m. because ''. -
You used middle english very well to sum up a (I think) modern problem. Great poem and well done for winning the contest!
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interesting and good luck!!
this is excellent and very understanding here you do sound like you are from the same age group as me
and just love the way in which thy has closed this off Brilliant Write 
Children of today see just what a mess we are leaving for them!!
~~Pauline -
Thank you for your comment on my poem “Marked moments” and the applause as well..I admire your work and to get your approval means so much.I went to do the return the favor and it took me here to your poem, your lovely sonnet, “A Mother’s Lament” Sorry for the delay in replying. I have tried to write sonnets and failed. Yours, here, is wonderful, classic and heartfelt. I think this has a Middle English feel to it. One does wonder what the new generation brings with it. Best of luck in the contest. Blessings and best wishes, richard
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I'm dumbfounded! Stunned! Urm...other equally 'somethingerather' words that 'fit'.
Yet another brilliant read! Have you been published?
This poem was both great in rhyme and in the excellent humour.
Damn that was good!
(Sorry I'm not quite as eleoquent (sp? We've moved house and I have no idea where my dictionary is. Forgive me!) as the other 'crtics' but I'm a 'simple woman'.
(And now you've gone and made me use up all my 'applause' on you! Dagnabbit!) -
I hear you! Children have not noticed that tomorrow is a lot like yesterday unless we do something about it today. You can lead a child to learning, but you can't make him think!!
I used the old language as a term of the contest, but I believe this is a timeless problem. When they fly away, they do better (usually). I know I did. Thanks for your comment, and good luck with your son!
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I too have a son that is just here. He has no ambition, lies in bed until afternoon, seems to refuse to do anything for himself, and guess what he's expecting a child in January. What is one to do? This is so familiar o me. I like how you mixed the use of old world language with the new youngster...Excellent. My heart hurts for the youth of today. I think I was just as rebellious but I was also determined to have my own and not have to depend on my parents with their rules and regulations. I was out of the house by 18.
Much Love,
Renee
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This was a great Sonnet written in the Middle English language. Too bad we can't take our children back to this time as well, for I do not believe they are ever going to come back to the view of decent morals. Not as long as their evil friends keep running in packs. I felt the frustration of a mother trying to get her son's attention to lead him on the right path. Most mothers don't even do that now a days they just give up. You did a great job with this. I can not even read in this form of english let alone try to write it.
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Fantastic!
Oh, boy! That does it! Madam Sonneteer...er Sonnetess? I'm late, everyone else has swiped anything I could have said that would be fresh 
Oh, woe is me, thou dost beggar this paltry vocabulary mine. There is nought left now, but this so silly line.
~ G
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Ah yes, took me right back to my childhood-- in a previous life. An absolutely authentic (sounding) reproof to an errant son. Do him tell, "Thou needst make haste to make recompense ere the summer's sun or thy jousting and lute lessons cease."
Human nature, as early writings show, has not changed so very much over the centuries! Applauding astounding veracity!
--Dee -
This is really a beautiful read. I could never write in this way. It takes complete understanding of the "middle english" language to be able to create such eloquent words. You did a wonderful job with this, and I wish you the best of luck in the contest.
Sam
Edited on Jun 02, 3:12 p.m. because 'missing an "e" in create...hehehe'. -
Yea!
I like the way you wrote a poem in Middle English about a modern-day dilemma! Thou art quite talented! -
very good! I like how you present middle english times as very similar to today’s times. quite clever.
good luck in the contest. this one should do well.
~travis
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oh, love it- especially the hose and doublet thrown down carelessly-- this is excellent, LOL! Very well thought.
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This was awesome.
great write.
You have a great imagination..wow.
Keep up with the
great writes.
Keep Smilin!!
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Awesome Write
Okay...I don't know if this was supposed to be funny but I was laughing so hard that my boss asked me what was wrong... It was your writing this in the style you wrote and these too lines below:
"the fam'ly prayers thou often hast escaped.
Thy friends are evil, running in a pack,"
I haven't laughed so hard in quite some time. Thanks...I needed that.
It is especially so funny because you are so reserved and tactful that I cannot imagine a son of yours being anything else besides reserved and tactful as well.
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Sonnets with a classic feel and a modern message.Very tongue in cheeky and I bet you had tremendous fun writing this one.You must be proud of this creation.Wonderfully crafted.Best luck in the contest
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Excellent!
Hi,
This was a wonderful sonnet my friend. The meter was supurb and I like the theme of the write. Good luck in the contest, and thank you for your advice
--Johnny
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