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parenting

by Sarah George

i'm parenting my parents
the ones who raised me up
sent me out into the world
the ones who've given me
the tools to do
all of the things they couldn't do.

i've come back home
to report from the field
checked in with the status of the mission
to tell them how i failed
to tell them how they failed
to prepare me.

i'm parenting my parents
recognising my own mistakes
and in that recognition,
allowing space
for my parents' own mistakes.

i've come to forgive
to analyse, to not forget
i've faced their greatest fears
and need to tell the story more gently
more compassionately

i need to gently raise them up
and to offer them
kernels of my wisdom
that they may have the tools to do
all of the things i couldn't do

i'm parenting my parents.

02/20/2010

Posted on 02/27/2010
Copyright © 2025 Sarah George

Member Comments on this Poem
Posted by V. Blake on 02/27/10 at 05:09 AM

My girlfriend is going through an unfortunately similar situation, though I hope yours is going far better than hers. Not to say she's a bad parent, but her parents are a little ridiculous. Anyway, lovely first poem, and welcome to Pathetic!

Posted by Philip F De Pinto on 07/13/14 at 12:21 PM

this is simply a splendid poem. more than a poem, really, and nearly a prayer and a mantra.

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