It Cannot Be Helped

You want for the crawls and climbs,
sublimes and lemons.

Let the kid run, helplessly,
so he or she strives
for the unreachable star.

“Stop growing!” a mother hollers.
A father has their bags packed.

Shikata Ga Nai, the wise say.

Mother must cry when separated
by the wibble-wabble of time.

Dad must harumph over remnants,
tricycles and toys in garage and attics,
shed tears behind dry eyes.

Most children fall
into another’s arms
and mother must cry.

Shikata Ga Nai cannot be denied.

The silence of empty nest and eventual death.
The middle years of hugs from kids of kids.

Kids calling through the ether,
wondering why their kid must keep growing taller.

You want to tell the secret, but must hint
at the eventuality -
reality it seems,

Shikata Ga Nai -
don’t deny the truth.

Shikata Ga Nai - It cannot be helped.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2024



Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Date: 11/10/2024 11:51:00 AM
Thank you for writing for my contest and congratulations on your placement.
Login to Reply
Rodrigues Avatar
Kim Rodrigues
Date: 11/10/2024 12:37:00 PM
Thank you! I enjoyed!
Date: 11/8/2024 6:33:00 PM
This seems really sageful and full of experience, dear Kim. <3
Login to Reply
Rodrigues Avatar
Kim Rodrigues
Date: 11/10/2024 12:36:00 PM
Thanks, Paige!
Date: 11/3/2024 7:15:00 PM
As time speeds away, children grow up and fly away leaving empty nests behind. It can't be helped. A great entry for the contest. All the best, Kim.
Login to Reply
Rodrigues Avatar
Kim Rodrigues
Date: 11/4/2024 5:41:00 AM
Thank you, Valsa!
Date: 11/3/2024 9:05:00 AM
Great poem!
Login to Reply
Rodrigues Avatar
Kim Rodrigues
Date: 11/3/2024 11:11:00 AM
Thanks, Vesna!
Date: 11/2/2024 3:44:00 PM
Hard to accept the little ones aren't little anymore. I tell my 30 year old daughter, "You'll always be my baby." Empty nest is hard to deal with. You've brought that to light so well with this piece. Thank you for your visits to my page.
Login to Reply
Rodrigues Avatar
Kim Rodrigues
Date: 11/2/2024 4:51:00 PM
I could tell my 40 year old kids but they’d have none of it…lol. I have 2 grown grands, 2 teens and 2 tweens. Watching them grow all too fast. Blessings and thanks!
Date: 11/2/2024 3:38:00 PM
The bittersweet time of children moving out, is well described in this beautiful poem. Well done, Kim!
Login to Reply
Rodrigues Avatar
Kim Rodrigues
Date: 11/2/2024 4:49:00 PM
Thank you, dear friend!
Date: 11/2/2024 10:33:00 AM
Great entry for the contest Kim, sadly time marches on and stops for no one. Tom
Login to Reply
Rodrigues Avatar
Kim Rodrigues
Date: 11/2/2024 2:47:00 PM
We must use ou time wisely! Thank you, Tom!
Date: 11/2/2024 7:58:00 AM
Often we say, "If only we could slow down time so we could keep our little ones with us longer," but Shikata Ga Nai. A very good write, Kim.
Login to Reply
Rodrigues Avatar
Kim Rodrigues
Date: 11/2/2024 8:37:00 AM
Thank you, Lin!
Get a Premium Membership
Get more exposure for your poetry and more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Radiant Verses: A Journey Through Inspiring Poetry

Member Area

My Admin
Profile and Settings
Edit My Poems
Edit My Quotes
Edit My Short Stories
Edit My Articles
My Comments Inboxes
My Comments Outboxes
Soup Mail
Poetry Contests
Contest Results/Status
Followers
Poems of Poets I Follow
Friend Builder

Soup Social

Poetry Forum
New/Upcoming Features
The Wall
Soup Facebook Page
Who is Online
Link to Us

Member Poems

Poems - Top 100 New
Poems - Top 100 All-Time
Poems - Best
Poems - by Topic
Poems - New (All)
Poems - New (PM)
Poems - New by Poet
Poems - Read
Poems - Unread

Member Poets

Poets - Best New
Poets - New
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems Recent
Poets - Top 100 Community
Poets - Top 100 Contest

Famous Poems

Famous Poems - African American
Famous Poems - Best
Famous Poems - Classical
Famous Poems - English
Famous Poems - Haiku
Famous Poems - Love
Famous Poems - Short
Famous Poems - Top 100

Famous Poets

Famous Poets - Living
Famous Poets - Most Popular
Famous Poets - Top 100
Famous Poets - Best
Famous Poets - Women
Famous Poets - African American
Famous Poets - Beat
Famous Poets - Cinquain
Famous Poets - Classical
Famous Poets - English
Famous Poets - Haiku
Famous Poets - Hindi
Famous Poets - Jewish
Famous Poets - Love
Famous Poets - Metaphysical
Famous Poets - Modern
Famous Poets - Punjabi
Famous Poets - Romantic
Famous Poets - Spanish
Famous Poets - Suicidal
Famous Poets - Urdu
Famous Poets - War

Poetry Resources

Anagrams
Bible
Book Store
Character Counter
Cliché Finder
Poetry Clichés
Common Words
Copyright Information
Grammar
Grammar Checker
Homonym
Homophones
How to Write a Poem
Lyrics
Love Poem Generator
New Poetic Forms
Plagiarism Checker
Poetics
Poetry Art
Publishing
Random Word Generator
Spell Checker
Store
What is Good Poetry?
Word Counter