Get Your Premium Membership

The Long Wail

It's okay to cry now, it's alright, because your baby is dead You said you didn't mean to smother the child; and the first baby, you said you accidently dropped on it's head That's twice you've been clumsy with life Yes, I believe you because your tears are salty sincere No, I don't believe you're a monster, heredity just skipped over you when it passed out the maternal gene Your life's been hell since those two infants died At night, you let out a long wail --- your promise of being a mother is again denied You had motherly dreams of teaching them how to walk, how to talk You had motherly desires of watching your children grow like flowers, and blossom into a better you But you smothered one with careless love, and in a momentary fit of frustration ... not hate ... you shook the baby, and the tyke fell loose All because the baby wouldn't stop crying, but everyone one knows that's what babies do It's okay to cry now, it's alright, because your babies are dead I guess I would be scared too, if I thought I was cursed and going to hell I think I would cry every night also, having tortured dreams would make me scream a long wail

Copyright © | Year Posted 2016




Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem.

Please Login to post a comment

Date: 12/9/2016 7:43:00 AM
Its sad because a lot of people keep having children when they have no parental skills whatsoever! Thought provoking deep write Freddie!:)
Login to Reply
Date: 12/9/2016 1:11:00 AM
This is how life is. I know it can be hard to read, but this is reality.
Login to Reply
Date: 12/8/2016 4:57:00 PM
This really got to me...I really don't know what to write in response. For a mother to kill her own children...we live in a sin sick world and that is the only explanation there is for such a thing as this. One day...all will be well. There is a heaven to come...
Login to Reply
Date: 12/8/2016 3:01:00 PM
- A story that makes me sad ... very sad - How can a mother ... or was it really an accident ... two children ... - How many children end their lives this way .... no, I can not bear to think about it - a deep and well written poem Freddie - hugs // Anne-Lise :)
Login to Reply
Date: 12/8/2016 12:30:00 PM
Freddie, this is so deeply intense , and so sad. You have brought attention to what happens out there and I like your truthful writing because of that. Showing situations for what they are. Keep up it up. :)
Login to Reply
Robinson Jr. Avatar
Freddie Robinson Jr.
Date: 12/8/2016 2:28:00 PM
Ty, Heidi. Some poems I write are very tough to do because how emotionally close I am to the situation. But I think the reader deserves to see life in all of it's imperfections, so that we don't make the same mistakes others have made. Appreciate your strong support. Love always to you.
Date: 12/8/2016 12:29:00 PM
7. Freddie, a hard read for me, given the subject. (Can you imagine...) But a good one; I think it would be good for every parent-to-be to read it. Tell you what - you think about a lot of profound stuff, and you bring it to us. Just think if the woman in your poem could return to an earlier time and not make those mistakes. Heck, in the end almost all of us have something in our history that we really regret. Sometimes, there's no coming back from it. Cheers, my friend.
Login to Reply
Robinson Jr. Avatar
Freddie Robinson Jr.
Date: 12/8/2016 2:21:00 PM
Ty, Doug for the keen insightful comments. I tried to show how the mother overcompensated by giving a smothering love to the second baby, as opposed to the short-given love to the first baby. Tragic on both ends. Love you, my poetic friend.
Date: 12/8/2016 10:37:00 AM
WoW! Freddie, You penned such a deep dark write. This write pulls at my heart strings. It makes me mad and sad at the same time. As a mother I'm screaming how can the persona in this write do that to her kids?Because I can't wrap my mind around it. It's pure evil in my book.You have penned the darkside of parenthood. A without seven:-) Alexis
Login to Reply
Robinson Jr. Avatar
Freddie Robinson Jr.
Date: 12/8/2016 11:02:00 AM
Ty, Alexis for being the first to comment on this poem. Infant death caused by neglect is such a big issue w/me, seeing how I come from a big family. I tried not to paint the mother as an evil person, but a very careless person. She suffers each day w/the consequences of her neglect. Love your glowing comments. Much love to you, dear.

Book: Shattered Sighs