navwin » Archives » Open Poetry #8 » Being a Dad
Open Poetry #8
Post A Reply Post New Topic Being a Dad Go to Previous / Newer Topic Back to Topic List Go to Next / Older Topic
notlikely2
Member
since 2000-06-16
Posts 308
UK

0 posted 2000-06-23 08:03 AM


WRITTEN AFTER SOME VERY LONG NIGHTS!!!

One minute you did not exist
Except as a trace on a monitor screen
The next you were here
Tiny and frail
Yet filling the room
With your screams

Another blank page
To be filled with a life
Another story to be told
Will you make your mark on the world
Or
Will you just grow to be old?

Seven years
You would think
Is ample time to prepare
But nobody taught me
How to be Dad
So
All I can do
Is to care

Making bottles
Changing nappies
Up at half past three
Although I'm tired this doesn't seem
So difficult
To me

Actually
I hate to say it
But
Just between you and me
Babies are rather boring
They just
Eat
And sleep
And pee!

"It will be better later on
When he understands
And talks
And soon we all will have such fun
And take him out for walks"

Four years on
"Don't talk so loud
You'll wake the baby up
Stop running about
Don't answer back
You insolent little pup
If you don't behave
I won't be there
In the morning
When you wake up"

'there, there
Don't cry
She's sorry son
She didn't mean what she said
Give us both a kiss and a cuddle
And I'll take you up to bed
I'll read your favourite story
And you can dream your dreams
It's amazing
How you ever sleep
Through baby's frantic screams'

Up at half past three
Again
Quenching baby's thirst
Feeling dead
What's that you said
Oh
"The first twenty years
Are the worst"



Love is like the measles.....the older you are, the harder it hits you!

© Copyright 2000 John Ward - All Rights Reserved
notlikely2
Member
since 2000-06-16
Posts 308
UK
1 posted 2000-06-23 09:10 AM


JUST A GIRL

....and this was written a few years later.......

Just a girl
That's all she is
And yet we expect so much
Don't do this
Don't do that
Eat your tea
Put on your hat

Sometimes I wonder how you put up with us
But then you don't have any choice
There are times when I think I'll explode
If just once more I hear that voice
Saying
"Please Dad can I...
Oh why won't you let me....
Everyone else at school does...
And if I don't I'll be left out....
Oh Dad! I'll feel such a fool"

And so
Sometimes I give in
'Though I'm not really sure that I should
But the weight of your pleas is too much to bear
With the promises of
"I'll be good"

Half an hour later
Shouting again
You STILL haven't cleared up that mess on the floor
No, Mummy WON'T  help you
I've asked you six times
You should have thought of that
Before you got everything out
Don't make me shout
Don't make me shout
PLEASE
Don't make me shout
Any more

And then
The guilty feelings start
creeping up on me
Remembering
Those tiny arms
So tight around my neck
A tear
And a  whisper
"I love you Daddy. I'm sorry I made you cross.
You do still love me don't you?"
Later
I steal into your room
To watch you sleeping
A picture of innocence

And just
A girl

Aren't we expecting
Too much
Too soon?



Love is like the measles.....the older you are, the harder it hits you!

ynotme?
Junior Member
since 2000-06-18
Posts 17

2 posted 2000-06-23 10:59 AM


Wnderful...
I can feel the pain and love which you have felt during those difficult times.
Only someone with first hand experience could  explain those feelings with such eloquence.
Well done, notlikely2 ...another winner!

notlikely2
Member
since 2000-06-16
Posts 308
UK
3 posted 2000-06-23 11:01 AM


Thank you ynot,
it is true that those times were very hard...butn also very rewarding.

Meadowmuse
Member Elite
since 1999-12-27
Posts 3263

4 posted 2000-06-23 11:11 AM


You have shared, so poignantly, just what it is to be a dad, I believe. Very nicely done!

~ Claire

Could a greater miracle take place than for us to look through each other's eyes for an instant?......Henry David Thoreau


Mike
Member Elite
since 1999-06-19
Posts 2462

5 posted 2000-06-23 02:01 PM


My daughters are 24 and 19... what do you mean about 20.. sheeesh...  had four children in five years with twins.  been there done that... enjoyed the poem.
notlikely2
Member
since 2000-06-16
Posts 308
UK
6 posted 2000-06-26 03:47 AM


LOL!
Thanks for theencouragement Mike.
Mine are only 12 and 9.....so I have a long ways to go!!!

tracie66
Member Elite
since 2000-01-18
Posts 4713
Australia
7 posted 2000-06-26 04:18 AM


This was an excellent read of both your poems..thanks for sharing
Tracie~


Love is the life of the soul...
It is the harmony of the universe



WhtDove
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-07-22
Posts 9245
Illinois
8 posted 2000-06-26 10:02 AM


You've done a great job here! No manual to tell you what to do. Being a parent is the hardest job in the world. And they can make you angry, but mostly tug on your heartstrings. They are most precious  
Post A Reply Post New Topic ⇧ top of page ⇧ Go to Previous / Newer Topic Back to Topic List Go to Next / Older Topic
All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format.
navwin » Archives » Open Poetry #8 » Being a Dad

Passions in Poetry | pipTalk Home Page | Main Poetry Forums | 100 Best Poems

How to Join | Member's Area / Help | Private Library | Search | Contact Us | Login
Discussion | Tech Talk | Archives | Sanctuary