Sunday Scribblings - Instructions

Out of curiosity, I looked up the etymology of "instruct." The word was "born" not long before the beginnings of the French Renaissance. "Struere," means to put together or build...as in our "structure" or "construct."
So that got me thinking about our role as parents in the "construction" of our children's lives; and how, at times, even when they are in their early adult years, they still turn to us for instruction. I love and cherish those times :-)

for My Children

my instructions were
    at one time
the nails in your framing

i bound each board together
    at times in haste
resulting in a dent for you
or a bruise for me but
most often both

we all survived somehow--
    and after its completion
the framing stood ready
for you to begin
filling in the empty spaces
as apprentices,
then as masters

i now watch you build
from the comfortable shade of a nearby tree
and as you construct
i am invited
    upon occasion
to place a nail here or there
for a photograph or painting—

an ornament, an enhancement, a voice of your own
that serves as much function
as the nails
that bind the cross beams

these commissioned nails
are the ones that I am not hurried to hammer
    and so
I take careful aim
to not dent the wall
or again bruise
my grateful thumb

for Sunday Scribblings

 

Comments

[jillypoet]

This is a perfect poem! I am always questioning the amount and duration of the instructions I give my 4 1/2 year old. I can't even imagine what it must be like to be stepping back and waiting to be asked for instructions. I, too, will print this out and refer to it often, from 5 yrs on up!

[Tammy]

That was brilliant and heartfelt!

[Jemima von Schindelberg]

This bit sang rather beautifully:

"resulting in a dent for you
or a bruise for me but
most often both"

a good allusion for the two way growth process of parenting.

[Verity]

Absolutely wonderful.

[tinker]

What a lovely interpretation of the prompt; I love the metaphorical imagery.

[Sticking it in your eye]

As a mother and a poet, I love this!

[Autrice]

The poem is lovely. Every parent should print out a copy and place it where they can see it.

[Paris Parfait]

Your poem is a perfect expression of what it's like to be a mother once the children have left the nest. It is beautiful, elegant and so evocative of the jumbled emotions accompanying such a shift - both for the mom and the children. Just brilliant, Susan. Bravo! xo

[Sandy]

Love the poem (et vous).

[Becca]

This poem perfectly and beautifully describes the role we play in the lives of our adult children. I could quote the parts that I love most, but that would be - well, all of it!
I guess this, most especially:

i now watch you build
from the comfortable shade of a nearby tree
and as you construct
i am invited
upon occasion
to place a nail here or there
for a photograph or painting—
an ornament, an enhancement, a voice of your own

AND This...

I take careful aim
to not dent the wall
or again bruise
my grateful thumb

These are both so reflective of my relationship with my son right now.

So well done, Susan. Sigh...