Play Ball With Me

His brown eyes gazed so pleadingly, "Mama, please play with the ball and me." "Dear Son, I would like to play with you, but I have so many things to do." He turned away without a word, and it's been long since I have heard "Mama will you play with me?" If I could go back to used to be, I'd ignore the dishes and unmade bed, to play with my precious child instead. Made beds and done dishes he doesn't recall, but rather when he and I played ball. Floors stay to be cleaned another day. Too soon his childhood has gone away. I no longer am his all in all and hear no longer, "Mama let's play ball." Written for Debbie's contest Won First place

Copyright © | Year Posted 2011



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: 8/9/2011 10:07:00 AM
Great Poem. Congratulations on your win with a lament from many a mother... especially me.
Login to Reply
Date: 8/4/2011 12:36:00 PM
Joyce, great to see your poem at the top of the list, Congratulations on your worthy presentation. Agape, Moses
Login to Reply
Date: 8/3/2011 8:49:00 PM
Oh my goodness. How did I miss this, Joyce? Surely, children remember the time you spent enjoying things with them far more than the work you did to help them have a good life. Great work and so deserving of first place. Been struggling and haven't been online, but had to offer my congrats. Love you, Carolyn
Login to Reply
Date: 8/3/2011 11:40:00 AM
CHEERS to you for the TOP, great win, joyce..:) huggs!
Login to Reply
Date: 8/3/2011 7:57:00 AM
Congratulations on your placement in Debbie's "Play Ball" contest Joyce. Love,Carol
Login to Reply
Date: 8/3/2011 6:04:00 AM
Many congrats on your first place win in Debbie's contest
Login to Reply
Date: 8/3/2011 5:22:00 AM
tinge of sadness cousin babe, well done here, still mamas slave (me) just fixed her front door lock:) deserved place up there i see! xo, Don
Login to Reply
Date: 8/3/2011 4:37:00 AM
Thank you so much..a sweet one, this write of yours..congrats on your fabulous win, jag
Login to Reply
Date: 8/3/2011 1:27:00 AM
super write!!!will certainly make more time to play with my boys. Ignoring them lately:(. your poem is truly written from the heart.Happiness Always.
Login to Reply
Date: 8/2/2011 10:42:00 PM
Oh yes....how many regrets do we have, each one of us, when time with our children is so terribly precious, and fleeting. What a heartfelt poem, and every parent can relate! Excellent win!!
Login to Reply
Date: 8/2/2011 10:32:00 PM
Joyce, until just now I had missed reading this. My eyes are tearing! As a mom to a toddler, I almost always put my baby girl and time with her first. Every now and then, when the dishes are falling out of the sink, when I can't find a clean pair of shorts to wear, when the cat hair on my carpet looks so thick I could braid it, I finally start to clean. Even then, I feel guilty. I know its also important for her to play alone, but I DO KNOW how short these days are. Bless you for this poem!
Login to Reply
Date: 8/2/2011 10:03:00 PM
Congrats Joyce on your first place win with this wonderful write luv.. excellent one my friend.. kudos ..top spot..
Login to Reply
Date: 7/27/2011 2:35:00 PM
Very truthful and good advice poem for young mothers..Some things can go undone sometimes for family fun and bond building..Enjoyed reading this afternoon..Good luck in the contest.Reads like a winner to me..Thanks for stopping by, reading, and commenting on my work..Sara
Login to Reply
Date: 7/27/2011 2:03:00 PM
Good luck in the contest.....boys always need their moms at some point in time.......George
Login to Reply
Date: 7/27/2011 7:49:00 AM
May your inspiration be long lived and your life be filled with many wonderful years of writing and of sharing your outstanding poetry. I enjoyed reading your poetry this morning Joyce. Love, Carol
Login to Reply
Date: 7/26/2011 10:34:00 PM
Just awesome...dont we all wish we could have done things a bit differently. BG
Login to Reply
Date: 7/26/2011 2:43:00 PM
fantastic piece! this is oh so true...they grow in the blink of an eye!
Login to Reply
Get a Premium Membership
Get more exposure for your poetry and more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Reflection on the Important Things

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