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Rapids Again

by Bruce W Niedt

By rights, we should be done with this.
We’ve already brought up three,
rode the whitewaters of their adolescence,
then walked them carefully through the door.
Now, when most of our peers are enjoying
grandparenthood, we are raising another,
rescued from the trap of a lesser life.
He’s blessed to have you, everyone tells us.
But at thirteen, he doesn’t often feel that way.
Some days we feel too old to do this.
The rapids wait once again, rougher
than they ever seemed before.
But we’re ready – our raft patched and inflated,
our life jackets strapped on tight,
our well-worn oars clutched in our hands.

02/06/2012

Author's Note: First published in US1 Worksheets, 2011.

Posted on 02/07/2012
Copyright © 2025 Bruce W Niedt

Member Comments on this Poem
Posted by Kristina Woodhill on 02/07/12 at 07:45 PM

The metaphor runs strongly through this. You are braver than me, and the words "we are ready" makes me confident you both will do fine.

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