A Letter To My Children (repost from #14)

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RSWells
Member Elite

since 2001-06-17

Posts 2533

0 posted 2002-06-16 11:04 AM

This was my first post here one year ago.

In life so little is certain,
Not much is guaranteed,
The call for the final curtain
Is not ours I'll concede.

I'd like this opportunity
In the limits of this space,
To hear ol' Dad in unity
While you four are in one place.

I know you're teens and I hope the sound
Of my voice won't grate your nerves,
Where you go I've been, and been around,
Made my choices and observed.

And the paths I've often taken,
I'm confessin' led to strife,
Raised in wrath see my mistake an'
Learn your lessons from my life.

I've eliminated all brutality
And poverty in your upbringin',
Tried to illustrate morality,
Lighten souls through family singin'.

Taught you to aggressors rebuff,
Ward off the advances of strangers,
To draw the line and say "enough"
To any who'd lead you to dangers.

I too was young and know it's hard,
For the whole time you're assumin'
Parents are perfect, now you're jarred
That we are after all human.

Well it's true, I've never denied it,
This was no play, we not a cast,
No ruse nor endeavor to hide it,
Now it's your day what's past is past.

To mother and I you're the source
Of what good in life we've to show,
Please smother the lie our divorce
Would deprive you the Love that you know.

While on that subject, respect your mother,
Worry less of this ol' poet,
You're it, she has no sisters or brother,
I'm tough as nails and you know it.

Recall what I've always told you,
When as toddlers this big world was frightnin',
You ran to Daddy to hold you,
Wether monsters or thunder and lightnin'.

As calm as I could through the fury
Of a life you thought at its worst,
That never your little hearts worry
Lest you saw me worry first.

Know too that as you consume
All your time with your current friends,
That the ones who you shard a womb
Will alone be there till the end.

When the faces around you estrange
And your hearts are dismissed by another.
Know the grace which can never be changed,
In the Love of your sisters and brother.

As you venture to tomorrow
For another you will care,
This can often lead to sorrow
And a pain that's hard to bear.

For Love's a part of living
And your hardest lesson learned,
Be sure the heart your giving,
Finds it's equal in return.

Please be honest and communicate,
Don't assume you know their thought,
Go beyond your first infatuate
Or your bloom was all for naught.

When you see that this road is clear,
By all means go ahead and wed,
To a partner, no domineer,
Never take anger to your bed.

To fellow humans show respect
And give the benefit of the doubt,
Not the price of your own neglect,
Before that happens throw the bums out.

As I've mentioned through the years,
To learn, observe and hold your tongue,
You've one mouth, two eyes and ears,
Be mostly silent when you're young.

Soon you'll all go seperate ways,
My silent melancholy is like,
The distant unforgotten day
I taught the oldest to ride her bike.

Lesson learned, my hands released
You to what must have seemed a flight,
But my pulse and fear increased
As off you went from out of sight.

Go with God! My Babes! My children!
Go with God! But understand,
I'll applaud the lives your buildin'
But it's not a promised land.

Keep in touch with one another,
While I did the best I can,
You've yourselves not any other,
Dear sweet measure of this man.

Our memory I'll savor it,
My own eternal flame,
I never showed a favorite,
I Loved you all the same.

Recently the one most young
Claimed she'd never seen me weep,
Presently my head is hung
And dry eyes I cannot keep.

Go with God my young adults,
Keep your passage in His sight,
In His awesomeness exult,
Then I'll know we taught you right.

I Love you Amanda, Richie, Elizabeth and Allison.

"Happy people have no history" - French Proverb

Martie

Moderator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-09-21

Posts 28049
California

1 posted 2002-06-16 11:18 AM

Richard

This touched the tears in me with the sincere and profound love and truth you have written. I hope you gave this to your children when you first wrote it, and that you give it to them again. It is priceless!!

Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

2 posted 2002-06-16 05:04 PM

Timely matter, and timely put. Congrats on your one year, Richard...it seems like only yesterday...

welcome back, too! Don't be a stranger!

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