who knows us better than ourselves
only those whose life we held in our hands for a little while
only those we had authority and responsibility over as we will never have again
only those who were vulnerable to our whims, our theories, our moods, our character
not our mothers, not our fathers, not our lovers, spouses, friends
who has seen us golden in the silky spiral of childhood
wrapped in sacrifical giving
loving, comforting, playing,
who knows our dark side better than ourselves
when our weakness springs out from behind the closet door
the darkness inside hiding our insecurities, our need to control
lashes out before the eyes of only them that see
we are all wrapped in the cloak of self delusion
that hides our good and bad from our very eyes
some of our mothers and fathers
tipped the balance toward selfishness and harshness
some called abuse discipline
some painted neglect away with the brush of self interest
some call criticism honesty
some call competition with their offspring sharing and comparing
some of our mothers and fathers
tipped the balance in the direction of selflessness and kindness
where there was no judgment when we fall
a hand reached out to pick us up
a listening ear without a quick reply
some celebrate our successes and wish them to be higher, bigger, deeper, longer than theirs could ever be
none perfect, but in the balance of life
some legacys leave pain
some legacys leave love
the measure of a man and a woman
is only truly known by their children
I absolutely LOVE this poem. I love its honesty. Its ability to see two sides, and to affirm the darker sides. I love how you do not try to “pink cushion” anything. Some things, only WE can know. I just love this. That’s it. Thankyou for writing it.
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Thank you. I appreciate your kind words very much indeed. I just hope I tip the balance for good with my own children!! But who can know… I think we are all self deceived to some extent.
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