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Of The Strangers In This House
by Chris Sorrenti
for twenty years we’ve lived together
raised one another in more ways than one
he teaching me to be a parent
me teaching him to be an adult
though in the process grown so far apart
now barely recognizing one another
there was a time when the whole thing was much simpler
it was easy to find the common ground
now we keep a safe distance
although territory shared, more often marked off
he with his friends, I with mine
most quite amicable, others undesirable
though in some semblance of peace
accepted by both
the only thing played together now seems to be tag team
for living room TV, upstairs computer
he has his bedroom, I have mine
safe havens for each of us
when the tension becomes too great
and though occasionally risking friendly conversation
at various points of intersection
careful not to open ourselves to more pain
out of a whole house
the only common ground now seems to be the dining room
where over the pangs of hunger, need to replenish ourselves
we can let our guards down
welcome talk of video games and films we’d both like to see
reminiscence of ‘the good ole days’
that formed a foundation at least for future bonding
perhaps it’s time I invited these strangers out
for dinner and a movie
what do you think?
© 2003
1,040 hits as of October 2024
08/17/2013 Author's Note: My son, Jason, and I have come a long way since the troubled days when I wrote this; mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Over the past 10 years, he has matured into a respectable young man, and though not without problems, I am still very proud of him. Now 30+ years old, Jason is a voracious reader, who can devour entire libraries in a short period of time, putting his old man to shame that way. He has also done a fair amount of writing, including poetry, blogs, and short stories, his main influence being the great Horror/Sci-Fi writers: Edgar Allen Poe, Dean Koontz, Stephen King, Anne Rice, Clive Barker, Michael Crichton, and the list goes on and on. In the process of it all, we have become good friends, though that parent/child bond remains strong.
Posted on 08/17/2013
Copyright © 2024 Chris Sorrenti
| Member Comments on this Poem |
| Posted by George Hoerner on 08/17/13 at 06:14 PM It is nice to know that I am not the only one to have communicative problems with family members and friends as well. I appreciate your putting all this out here for us to absorb. Nice write. |
| Posted by Gabriel Ricard on 08/19/13 at 03:37 AM I have a fun Clive Barker story. That said, this had a powerful, far-reaching narrative punch that's still ringing in my ears. Well done. |
| Posted by Kristina Woodhill on 08/19/13 at 11:06 PM It's very satisfying to read both pieces here, the poem and the author's notes. To see that the relationship has grown and now thrives is surely a testament to you both. |
| Posted by Britt Zimmerman on 08/23/13 at 07:28 PM So beautiful and heartbreaking yet so encouraging and reflects the bond we all have with our kids no matter how old or how far apart! Well done, as always :) |
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