Leaving

The straw thinned
Mother grinned
unconvincingly
Said it was time to leave
she built this nest
scoured twig
gave breast
Lay the ground
for birth
will breathe
life into son
he coughed her waters
a welcome to the world
he, this cradled creation
Begins to grow
And growing crawls and slumbers
approach
a fear double in numbers
on birthdays
I don’t want to let you go
For that means I am facing age
And yes wretched numbers!
wretched page
Rulers of the world numbers!
Yet joy when clicking tumblers
Align to release
the adolescent combing lock
he picked the habits
I tried to block
perched
an uncomfortable stand
a train of tears from a grain of sand
I don’t want you to leave
But the hour glass is clear
turned by unwilling hand
For he has outgrown the nest
A post teen itching protest
In you we invested life.
We the weather proof but not eternal
broad wing and shoulder maternal
But not forever
The eggshell you left is mere sentiment
A chiselled epitaph canopy
leaking
And mortar branch struggles to hold
a growing son growing old
Sorry for September
And The coming cold
But I could have cut the cord
Many years ago



27-8-2007 Peter Crompton

What a stunningly beautiful poem. Bravo Peter.