I know he was ill <br />but still..... <br /> <br />Below the surface <br />I feel that you smothered him. <br /> <br />You mothered him <br />in the best way you could <br />as any mother would. <br /> <br />But in the end <br />it did no good. <br /> <br />He could no longer live with those demons. <br />He wasn't a free man. <br />They were always there. <br /> <br />But the cotton wool? <br />The kid gloves? <br /> <br />With your overpowering love <br />could you not have seen <br />what was to be? <br />And set him free? <br />Just a little? <br /> <br />He was imprisoned <br />by his and your emotion. <br />Too much emotion, <br />making him out to be different, <br />special, <br />above all others. <br /> <br />You had others! <br /> <br />Six others. <br />Did THEY get the attention <br />they needed? <br />Did you feed them <br />the time and praise <br />needed by children <br />as they are raised? <br /> <br />How do they feel about this 'god'? <br />Their brother, <br />revered and pedestallised <br />by their mother <br />with such passion? <br /> <br />And how did HE feel <br />to be the main focus of YOU? <br />Was he split in two? <br />God or man. <br />An idol. <br /> <br />Was it fair <br />To share your time <br />90 / 10? <br /> <br />10 for them. <br />The little ones. <br />Watered-down time, <br />in between <br />those chimes of panic <br />and fear. <br /> <br />Or might it be <br />that being the mother you are <br />you care <br />for the runt of the litter? <br />No bitterness <br />from the others. <br /> <br />Does love stretch <br />to encompass all? <br />All those children <br />who call. And need you <br />because you're Mother. <br />Did you smother? <br /> <br />Or was your heart so big <br />You loved them all? <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Written in response to Danielle Steel's book about her son Nick. Well worth a read.............<br /><br />Francesca Johnson<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/mothered-or-smothered/
