Her Turn
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Her Turn
copyright 2010 Linda Ellis
Carefree and independent,
I kissed them both goodbye
the day I left my parents’ home
and got my wings to fly.
Now my daughter has shown me
just how deep their feelings were,
as those invisible wings of freedom
were, today passed on to her.
When it’s time, a mother eagle
gives her young a gentle shove
to push him from the nest,
though she does this out of love.
But I am not an eagle,
nor do I possess her will
and there’s a void inside my heart,
I don’t know how I’m going to fill.
Though, I know this was inevitable;
children grow, it’s what they do
and growing up, means growing apart
and growing away from you.
I was given the most precious gift
when I held my newborn daughter
and I only pray now she remembers
most everything I’ve taught her.
I peered out the window from the house
where she played and laughed and grew
and everywhere I looked, I saw
the little girl I knew.
When she started kindergarten,
that’s where we met the bus that day…
I stood bewildered in the street
as I watched it drive away.
I took her picture by those Azaleas
in a dress of pretty lace,
with a little chocolate bunny left
on her hands and on her face.
There’s the spot where she rode by
with the wind at her heels,
peddling her wobbly little bike
when we removed her training wheels.
These memories may be beautiful,
but they still cut me like a knife,
as I sit alone here and remember
how much she’s brightened up my life.
Now everything has changed here
in just one dusk…and one dawn
and I’m trying my best to comprehend
how eighteen years have come and gone.
But, it’s her turn to face the world
just the same as it was mine;
it’s her turn to laugh and love
and it’s her turn to shine!
I beg you, world, be kind to her
and easy with her heart,
let her quickly learn the lessons
from the wisdoms you’ll impart.
Let her heart remain unbroken,
and her humor never fail,
let each untruth that will befall her
quickly be unveiled.
Let her realize there’s a blessing
in everything she’ll live and learn
as she spreads her wings and flies,
because, world…it’s her turn.
Copyright 2010
Linda Ellis
www.lindaellis.net
Once again you have translated feelings into words. HOOAH!!!
K
Linda, how do you come up with the words that gather the thoughts and touch the hearts of so many people? You’re truly amazing, and so is your work. Thank you!
My entire life seems to be a single, long, conversation, but I’ve learned to slow down, put in the “commas” to stop and smell the roses, and embrace all of God’s beauty around me. Sweet memories of the past sustain me, even though the losses are still painful, but I want to participate in making additional memories for my children and grandchildren.
Very sweet poem. Such a wonderful reminder to stop, breathe, take it all in because the moment will be here soon. Thank you!
My oldest is now preparing to go to college next yr. The other 3 boys are homeschooled and a handful. My baby is a 3yr girl who is VERY emotional-more emotions than I’ve ever had to deal with totaling the 4 boys all put together! So I’m in the midst of full-blown-chicken-with-the-head-cut-off motherhood. Breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner, snack,boy scout, karate, piano practices, schooling, pee in the bed, 3 loads a day, cleaning, stub your toe on G.I. Joe trying to run a business motherhood!
Thank you for reminding me to slow down and enjoy. It will be over soon enough-or will it? The baby is only 3, I have another 15 yrs of this! Okay…let me read it again.
Yes, slow down and enjoy; all of this activity will one day just be memories. Thanks for reminding me! LOL!
Linda, unfortunately they grow further and further from their mother as they rear their own children, as it should be, never realizing that when they grow old it will be the same for them, so again, back to your memory poem,
Beautiful words as I sit here preparing for my daughter to leave for college next week. Its my last…empty nester I guess I’ll struggle through. Thank you for the tears I shed while reading your thoughtful words. I’m always pleased to cry these days as I hope they will be less tears to cry as I leave her at college. Guess I hope it gets easier but I don’t think so.
Sarah
Wonderful poem. I have a daughter who’s now grown up with a daughter of her own. She said she understands much better now what we went through as she was growing up.
Thanks, for putting this experience into words.