Sunday 24 June 2018

A dream of one's own




She has no space for any luxury -
two rooms, a teabag-size single income,
darned heels and elbows, and the drudgery
that’s supposed to be happiness on crumbs.

Her dreams are supersized, though the teabags
are squeezed once, twice, even three times at a pinch;
too many mouths to carry on one back,
too few hands and too many beds per inch.

But she has a heart resistant to despair -
she dreams of a sleek console; a doll’s house
with one bed per bedroom, a store and stairs,
a library of tiny books to browse.

She hoards each scrap of waste fabric and wood,
to get her child what she’s missed in childhood.






10 comments:

  1. I firmly believe we all NEED to dream. And hope that there is some room in her dreams for herself - as well as her child.

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    1. I see a lot of women like this around me, not enough dream to cover both mother and child.

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  2. wow - you just always strike the poignant nerve. We all know mothers who sacrifice for the kids. "no, I'm not hungry - have that extra piece of food". You capture the dreams in this poem. Well done.

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    1. Thank you! Most mothers do sacrifice a lot for their children.

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  3. Hi Nila - an exquisite poem full of pathos ... but hope through the dreams ... and I feel sure she will provide for her child. Loved reading it - cheers Hilary

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    1. Yup, mothers are strong. And can't be turned away from what they set their hearts on. Glad you enjoyed reading. Thanks.

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  4. She can't give up her hope or stop trying.

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    1. Nope, she can't. She's persistent, mums persevere.

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  5. There are those rare exceptions, but most mothers can almost be called miracle workers. I've written a few posts about my own mother, but I once did a short piece about moms in general: https://silverfoxlair.blogspot.com/2012/08/determination-fable.html

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