Long-Stemmed Promises

Long-stemmed Promises 

sweet babies
need sleep, sustenance and love.
Sounds easy enough. 
 
Ask the sleepless mother
who feels the diaper rash more
than the infant.

Ask the mother whose child
is the bully or the bullied or
the social outcast.  

Ask the mother of the child
Hooked on drink and drugs,
the troubled ones.

Ask the mother of the adult
child growing her own 
long-stemmed promises.

Kathryn McLoughlin Collins
November 5, 2005

Copyright © | Year Posted 2012



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Date: 7/23/2012 3:18:00 PM
You nailed it, Kathy! I am a parent. I can really get into this one. Congrats on the selection. Love, daver
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Date: 5/8/2012 6:40:00 AM
Very well contrived and rendered... mothers so often bear the full burden of child rearing and discipline. What an apt title! Well done Kathryn!! Best wishes, Keith
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Date: 2/2/2012 9:43:00 AM
Hi Kathryn-This is one of my favourite of yours.I am now a great-grandmother but can relate to what you have written-so beautifully-in my own experience or through that of friends.Some of your words really moved me.Yet I'm sure I speak for most mothers that even with all the many challenges we would not forgo the experience and the joys of motherhood.A lovely poem ,I would like it as one of my favourites.Thank you Love June(sylvia)
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Collins Avatar
Kathryn Collins
Date: 2/5/2012 9:07:00 AM
Thank you June (sylvia?), I'm so thankful for your touching comments. Life brings so many circumstances a young mother does not dream of. love, Kathy
Date: 1/18/2012 11:53:00 AM
I stopped by your poetry today to see if you have written anything new Kathryn. Do continue to write and share your poetry. Love, Carol
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Collins Avatar
Kathryn Collins
Date: 1/19/2012 10:47:00 AM
Thanks Carol. I was away for a week and now I plan to get down to posting again. You are sweet to check on me. love, Kathy
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