THIRTEEN

...just a few thoughts after a conversation with my son last night. His poor face so full of anguish and fear. All those tears. What's a mother to do?!?

 

 

13. this boy.

green eyes, that will one day make a girl's heart stop.

Wavy brown hair, that lays just-so.

angel-kiss freckles on his shoulders.

13. my son.

he is quick to laugh.

a smile with a flash of the braces

that are correcting the "over-bite" I find so endearing.

13. this child.

full of questions, that he thinks he knows the answers to.

full of life. Like most boys his age

he plays sports, has many friends, has a "love" interest.

13. he is 13 ,and he is obsessed with his own mortality!

He thinks of death and dying before he falls to sleep each night.

He cries out in his sleep, his voice full of fear and loathing.

Do I reassure him? Tell him he is too young to think such thoughts?

That he will live a long and full life?

Who am I to presume it will be so?

What do you say when they are 13 and already consumed with

the ticking of the clock?

13.

He is 13.

Reviews

[Lisa]

I really like this. It sounds alot like my son. It's amazing to think someone so young would already think about death. Thus is the boy. Very beautifully put together. I especially love the descriptive details. Angel-kissed freckles. Very beautiful. I haven't heard that term in years! Very real, it makes me feel as though it were son again! Great job!

[Spoken]

wow, 13 is too young to worry about death.. maybe you should tell him it's not the length but quality of life you live? Most kids his age think they are invincible. Perhaps he is wiser than his years. A tough thing to answer to as a parent, but I'm sure you've handled it well. Sounds like a great kid! Sounds like he has a great mother! lots of depth here, makes me think what would i do or say in a similar situation.

[alyssa]

i really love it!! i can relate... sometimes i will think of death... it really scares me sometimes... i end up scaring myself.. i know how you must feel too! i really love it!! its well written!! keep writing!!

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

Such a tough question... to be that young and thinking that way, when I was there I had that invincible attitude... a very sweet write.

[poddar kushal]

"already consumed with

the ticking of the clock?

13.'- this is an emotional yet remarkable with intellect, poem.

[Joseph - Michael]

At first, I thought it was about bad lucks and such, because of number thirteen. Don't mind me, I don't think straight that well (lol)

Anyway, I really do love this writing a whole lot. I have a son and he's not three yet. And I'm looking forward to see him every more of the minutes as he grow up. So, thank you for this writing, it just gave me some more of the thoughts about my son

Also, it's a great read...

[James K. Blaylock]

Wow, this so very powerful. And I believe -being one who has thought of death from a very young age- we are all constantly thinking of our own end. Because truly that thought is always there in the back of our minds. But I look forward to a wonderful afterlife, myself. Great write, Carrie.

[Prose-full]

love it.....you give so much power to '13'....

"He is 13."---here..love this choice of end....

[THERISA]

The start of the teenage years are the hardest time that one can go through. Exploring one's options and still trying to be the same. The best advice, i could give a parent is to be supportive of your child, while letting them decide which path to travel. Remind him that he has a pair of friendly ears that will listen without passing judgement upon him. Know that my parents didn't understand the things that were facing me as a teenager. Just show him that you love and support him. Thank you for sharing this poem with us.

Therisa

[George Love]

Very dark and having lived with one who went through this phase, you captured all the emotions very well. Great work!