The angry dandelion
is on fire again
and the house is on warning.
I wish I could
slip a disk into her
volcano shell and
see the world through
her filter,
what lights the fuse
and sets her off.
Her mother and I
try to bring her happiness
but we fail daily.
The house is already child-proofed,
now it needs to be
anger-proofed.
Dear Little Blonde Talking Monkey
don’t you see
we’d love to see you
bright and breezy?
For now,
something dark and brooding
lurks in you
waiting to surprise us
like a landmine,
but do not mistake our
motives:
we love you and just want
some happy memories
for ourselves,
and I wrote this today
just in case
someday in the future
if you ever think
we didn't do enough,
this is my
pre-emptive defense.
[Posted for #OpenLinkNight-at dversepoets.com - comeone, come all, and have a poetic ball!]
O, Mosk...start the anger proof, quick!...prophylatic premptive...clever! Frankly, I don't think I'd have the patience for young 'uns...Gotta hand it to ya'~jackie~
ReplyDeleteRight - this was years ago, and as she's become a teen, it's a little better and a little worse.
DeleteMosk, this is very sad. It must be very difficult to deal with an 'angry dandelion.'
ReplyDeleteYes, but as rough as it is for me, I feel more for her. A little kid with depression is a frustrated thing indeed.
DeleteI like the idea of a preemptive poem. Dandelions can be very resilient but all petals are fragile as well.
ReplyDelete...and so is my Sarah. Thanks.
DeleteA lot of quietly contained frustration there, as well as love and understanding. And a sense of powerlessness - I think I may have a child like that too.
ReplyDeleteThanks, when you have a kid with emotional problems and difficulty articulating them, it's not a recipe for fun.
Deletethe angry dandelion...that paints a tight picture... not easy to deal with an angry kid...needs lot of love and wisdom...
ReplyDeleteYes, you're right, and I've often been wrong.
Deletea cool, fresh, honest, irreverent take on the "open letter to my child" theme. the first stanza is damn brilliant, and the imagery that follows delivers on that promise. so glad I found this--and you--today.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Earthgirl - your words are very encouraging.
Deletemmm this is something that we faced with most every family that i counselled...understanding why we had to do what we do...and expectations are not bad things...though it does seem so very hard for teens at times....
ReplyDeleteThanks, bro. This was her 8 years ago - she's a bit better now, and so am I.
Deletea poem, i think, that had to be written at the time - i understand that... the use of language is well suited to the content, words well chosen & there's an urgency i feel especially at the start, for parents to begin understand what the child is going through
ReplyDeleteI wish I could
slip a disk into her
volcano shell and
see the world through
her filter,
what lights the fuse
and sets her off.
Thanks so much for your kind words.
DeleteI wish I could
ReplyDeleteslip a disk into her
volcano shell and
see the world through
her filter,...
so many times in relationships, this is what we wish for.
it's so hard to be in this position, wishing you all the best a you move your way through these times.
Thanks, and this was a long time ago. Today she's entering the 11th grade.
DeleteI have SIX ... and I feel like I am a bit care-warn. The best advice EVER was to tell them "I don't need to be your friend as I have many friends already". I did love the "pre-emptive defense" line. They will all know someday when they are parents ... Grand-parenting WILL is something to look forward to :)
ReplyDeleteSix? I only have three and they came with the wife! Love your advice line - I say "I'm not your friend, I'm Pop-o!"
DeleteOh to diffuse that anger. And wondering what we did to trigger it, to set it off. Am unsure of the age of the child in this piece. I know little ones sometimes have not learned to communicate, to express themselves, so sometimes they vent in anger, in tantrums. In an older child, sometimes help needs to be sought. Best wishes to you and yours as you sort this out.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ginny. Some days are better than others, and rarer still, some days are great.
DeleteThis is almost a perfect portrait of my oldest sister when we were growing up. I so wanted to be close to her, but through my kid-lens, all that registered was the slamming door, the running away, the screams at Mom and Dad.
ReplyDeleteMy heart goes out to you, brudda, for all you are going through. We had tenacious times with Riley, but nothing like you are going through now. Just remember what Charlotte used to say.
"This, too, shall pass... like a kidney stone." That's about it, right? Love you, brudda mine. Ameleh
Good wishes with raising a girl, Buddah. I did it and she turned out lovely. Nice narrative.
ReplyDeletePamela
living the bungee cord life with our second teenager now... this is so familiar... we survived the elder, so hopeful about getting through with the younger... you will too... still I feel your frustration and love... she probably does too, but will not admit it for at least a few years. good luck!
ReplyDelete