John Lawless Poet Free verse

What Would You Have Me Do - For Contest

What would you have me do??
Choose one of my children over the other?

Each was nurtured in my heart
imbued with my passion

Disciplined by my desire
for their success

Dressed, in abundant finery
fitting for their “coming out”

What would you have me do??
Remove the scar of character

Cover the blemishes of youth
shield them from the sun

Deny them the chance to mingle
lest they fail to “fit in”

Tone down their beauty
in the face of dullness

Why would you have me do this?
For I love them all so

I protect them
for they are my offspring

My poetic progeny
genetically graced

With my wit and wisdom
tears and heartache

success and failure
dreams and nightmares.

I cannot choose
which part of me is best.


John G. Lawless
1/21/15/2015

♡Like0

Share Poem

---

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

Sandra Haight December 17, 2015 at 8:45 PM John, congratulations on your win! Sandra

Skat A December 17, 2015 at 3:35 PM John, Congrats on your old best poem. HUGS **SKAT**

Jan Allison December 17, 2015 at 11:54 AM Sadly I can relate to this in the way i have been treated by my family but it could also relate to our poetry - you really hit a nerve with this one John! Congrats on your win:-) hugs Jan xx

Peter Lewis Holmes December 15, 2015 at 4:43 PM John this poem blew me away..it confronts the reader with your life against theirs...so asking a terrible question...can we ever be the "good" parent?.....Peter