A Mother Looks At Graduation

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A Mother Looks At Graduation







Yesterday I washed his face

And wiped his dimpled hand.

Today I watched him drive my car.

My baby is a man.

The tennis shoes all full of mud,

And toys strewn everywhere,

Are now a distant memory,

That once caused near despair.

Instead, I spy across the room,

A gun rack by the door.

My son, the hunter, (so HE says)

Has toys that cost much more.

And all those days of playing cars,

And tracking floors with dirt,

Are fading from my mind and yet,

It somehow makes me hurt.

For though I'm thankful plenty

That he's healthy, tall and strong,

Today is graduation day.

Tomorrow he'll be gone.





Music:




Author's Notes/Comments: 

I found this in a drawer under the lining.  It was written in 1984 when my oldest son, Gene, graduated high school...I was right.

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*~* Slendah*~*'s picture

I know what you mean. My son is 21 years old. I know that once he finds a job he'll be moving out, leaving me alone. But I also know that he has his own life to live.

"Be Well, Gene!"

patriciajj's picture

Oh, I think I'm going to cry . . . This touched the center of my soul. Simply fantastic expression that no mother could fail to be moved by. I wish I had written it for my son!! Again: fantastic. Pat

Joyce Counts's picture

Jess, So Sweet,So Bittersweet, I can only imagine the pride your children give you. That is one thing in my life that I never had the oppertunity to enjoy(Children). My life took a different turn. Later,Joyce/Spanky

Susie Bixler's picture

This was lovely. Thank you. I wish this might have been in a Hallmark card for me to give to my son whan he graduated. ~S

Julie Cruz's picture

i really like this poem. i (obviously) am not a mom so it makes me look at things from a different angle. kinda helps me understand my mom a little bit more. like i said i really love this poem. its got such a nice flow and its filled with such emotion.very easy to relate to in one way or another. thank you so much for commenting on my poems and saying such sweet things. you asked to let you know when i posted a new poem and i did. its called "a parting decision" written about some of my emotions recently. its actually about my boyfriend of a year and four months. so read it and enjoy! and great job on this poem. it was very sweet.

Butch Lesley's picture

This is so true. My oldest is Down Syndrome and still lives at home so our nest has never been "empty". They youngest "flew the coop" several years ago. It was sad in a way but he still comes by for lunch and makes himself at home. My wife's sister-in-law couldn't figure out why we didn't go to pieces when he left. It hurt some but that was what we raised him to do. Be a man, create a life for himself but to never forget where "home" is.

kat's picture

I like this. Makes me realize that in 10 short years my girl may be flying the coop also.
Time flies......

>^..^<