Kathryn Collins Poet Free verse

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

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Daver Austin July 23, 2012 at 3:18 PM You nailed it, Kathy! I am a parent. I can really get into this one. Congrats on the selection. Love, daver

Keith Bickerstaffe May 8, 2012 at 6:40 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

Sylvia Coulstock February 2, 2012 at 9:43 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) Kathryn Collins February 5, 2012 at 9:07 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

Carol Sunshine Brown January 18, 2012 at 11:53 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 Kathryn Collins January 19, 2012 at 10:47 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