How ardently, now, I wish for others <br />what I –alas too late – wish - <br />would have wished - for my own self, <br />and maybe, for my parents too: <br /> <br />some time in life – it would depend on you – <br />but not too late, too late – <br /> <br />to sit down together - <br />each parent, each child, individually – <br />and maybe with a few days ‘thinking time’ beforehand - <br />and say – you could take this in turns – <br /> <br />‘Ask me all the questions <br />which you never, until now, thought to ask... <br />ask me all the questions <br />which you never liked or dared to ask... <br />and I shall answer you…’ <br /> <br />and if it goes well (as I pray it will) <br />you might even incorporate this <br />into a yearly family occasion: <br />done with humour and with love; <br /> <br />this is what I wish for you <br />as ardently as I would have <br />wished it for myself; <br />for this is my regret, <br />for myself; and perhaps, for them..<br /><br />Michael Shepherd<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/an-ardent-wish-for-others/
