Tomorrow's Child

Cherry

By Silver Spun Sand

Wed, 02 May 2012
  • 1975 reads
12 comments
 

I watch you sleep – so soundly...
even though the rain beats hard
upon the window, and the willow –
screeching on the pane, is still
unwinding from my ears...
I wish you sweet dreams.

I wish your brow be cooled in summer
by the beat of butterflies’ wings,
and may you grow to learn the joy,
and freedom of playing outside
until dusk, without one single child
leaving till your game is done...

May you never prime the guns of war,
nor bear the arms of hate, and may
you wake on some misty, faraway
tomorrow, to the tinkling of piano
and the smell of home-brewed lemonade
drifting with the wind...

and may you find me springing
back to life in all these foolish things,
and may there be peace in your time,
nor ever forget, my precious child,
the buck ends with you.

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Comments

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on
Hi Tina, what an absolutely delightful poem. I understand what you are feeling here, and I too wish those poetic words for Tomorrows Child. A very thoughtful read. Jenny.

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on
Thanks, Jenny. Pleased you thought so;-) Tina

 

Submitted by Esther on
A wonderful lovely read, but tinged with fear, as we think not of the world we want but first of the world as it is.

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on
Thanks, Esther. You are so very right. Tina

 

Submitted by Denzella on
Hello Tina, 'May you never prime the guns of war nor bear the arms of hate' For me, there is something deeply poetic in that line. I don't know what it is whether it is the rhythm of the words or the words themselves but I found that line incredibly arresting! Moya
 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on
Thanks, Moya. More than appreciated;-) Tina

 

Submitted by rjnewlyn on
I think most of all I liked the sense of the rainy night - it seemed to add to the watchful thinking. Rob

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on
Thanks Rob...and we sure have had quite a few rainy nights of late;-) Tina

 

Submitted by ItsSteveDave on
Hi Tina, I love this, the obliviousness of the child in question, both in terms of his/her youth/innocence, and the fact they are asleep, juxtaposed with the adult worry just makes this perfectly bitter-sweet. 'and may you find me springing back to life in all these foolish things,' That's my favourite line - the guardedness of the adult drops just for a moment! Steve.

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on
Many thanks, Steve...you got to the essence of this in those two lines you quoted. Much obliged to you, and I hope the weekend is a good one for you;-) Tina

 

Submitted by Sooz006 on
and may you grow to learn the joy, and freedom of playing outside until dusk, without one single child leaving till your game is done... What a sweet, innocent wish for a child, it brought tears to my eyes. But I was a big brave girl and didn't bawl. Of course, these days any child leaving the game early would probably be kidnapped, abused, murdered or set fire to in their homes. Do children still have time to be innocent?

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on
Hi Sooz;-) You pose an interesting question. My view is that although times have changed, obviously, I don't think people have; I guess it's just we're more aware these days of the dangers that could befall our kids, because of media hyp in many cases. I grew up in London in the early nineteen fifties, and know for a fact my own grandchildren have never had to go through what I did, at the hands of strangers, (in cinemas, on buses, in parks etc.) and I thank God for that. Tina