To My 7 Children

 

 

When you were young, as I recall,

I watched you grow, I watched you crawl,

You took your first few steps with me

And I was your security.

 

Though never rich, we plodded through

And loved each other, me and you,

We made do with the things we'd got

Though they were few, we'd not a lot.

 

A roof, good clothes, and you were fed,

You had warm blankets, and a bed,

While I did all that I could do

To keep you, and your mothers, too.

 

I worked and studied, called away

To try improve things, day by day,

But one by one your mothers left

And took you too, I was bereft.

 

I couldn't keep a wife, it seemed

They wanted more than I could scheme,

And so I paid the price in loss,

My children, left to count the cost.

 

But I stuck with you, thick and thin

I picked you up at each weekend,

I gave you all the love I had

And cried at night, when things were bad.

 

Those nights of empty cupboards, bare

With pockets full of plain, fresh air,

We'd cook up damper in the pan

And top it off with strawberry jam.

 

We'd play our games, sit in the gloom

Tell ghostly stories in our room,

Jump out in shadows, squeal in fright

And laugh and laugh 'til past midnight.

 

But you have grown, and judge me now

Say that I didn't care, somehow,

You never saw me when you slept

The nights that I just sat and wept.

 

I did my best, but now you say

That I lost touch along the way,

You moved, where I could not forsee

Both interstate, and overseas.

 

So now I'm just that sad old man

You left to shift, as best I can,

And though you still sit in my heart

The scars you left, tear me apart.

 

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[Valentine]

Oh God David..this one is so sad and lonely..Divorces are so hard on the children and so many times the mothers run down the dads making the children dislike them..All you can do is send them each a copy of this poem and tell them in the letter just how much you love them and are thankful that they were born..God bless and many prayers..Kathie

[Tate Morgan]

CAN any of us ever really know what the future and children hold.I for one had two children a boy and a girl the girl i cannot relate to the boy i cant live without Was it chance.i think not i think it the problem of the other parent turning the children on you

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

As one who never knew her father and one who suffered abuse and neglect at the hands of a cruel and unloving mother, I simply do not have the words to express how this poem touches my heart. Your deeply ingrained regret and sorrow have obviously compelled you to share a bit of your soul. I only hope that your children have the willingness to perceive with an open heart.

[Tomás Ó C..]

Broken families never heal... thats the tragedy...

[Deborah Leah Krempa]

Such a sad heartbreaking poem, I agree with VAl and Dani, send this poem to them if you can. It is so beautifully penned and written from your heart. Thank you for sharing. Debileah

[Dani California]

Oh this is so heartbreaking, David. Wow... I am nearly at a loss for words and that doesn't happen often. I agree with Valentine... if you have addresses, you should send this to each of them.

Too often we see things only from the mother's perspective, pointing fingers at the father for his absence, even when he was left without a choice in the matter.

This was very touching.. I pray this turns around and your children are able to see and understand your heart.

God bless you.

[Gandré]

But you have grown, and judge me now
Say that I didn't care, somehow,
You never saw me when you slept
The nights that I just sat and wept. -------this was my favorite stanza. And this is so, because we only see what we w-a-n-t to see. I am not sure if children owe something to parents; children didn't want to enter this world. One just can sit and wait that some rewards once might reach you. Great poem about the inner conflict between parents and children.

[Debra Stevens Edwards (..]

David You made me cry with this one I felt your pain and heartache.
Hugs Debby

[C.T. Bailey]

And then my old friend, we both have discovered, solace for us is in the pen. It stays the pain, dries the tear, and allows us to just breathe. The fatuity of those who surround us is their inability to understand us. I understand your pain...you know I do. I wish I could do more than just offer my words...but they are my best offering. Peace to you.
Todd