A Letter To Your Child Poem by Kerri White

"I was away from you
While you were hurting.
I chose to burden others
With your pain, instead of
Burdening myself, though
Your pain should be mine
And mine alone; I should cure
Your aches all on my own.
I should have the God-given power
To soak up all of your fears,
To filter your heartache
Through my own heart.
But if I do not have these powers
To do such loving things for you,
I should always believe in misfortune
That I am the most capable person
And that I can fix you instantly
When you need relief the most.
　
I should love you
To the extent that I know
Your birth meant
I'm not supposed to live without you.
I shouldn't dismiss you
Any chance I get to be a child myself,
For you are my child,
Which means in an instant,
I merged into adulthood,
If for nothing else,
Because of you.
Being your mother means
Spending my last dime
Just to put a smile on your face
Instead of spending it on myself
While dancing around in immaturity.
It means a "vacation" without you
Is completely miserable because you're not there.
Your empty bed causes a grief
That I've never felt at any other time.
So while you are my healthy child,
I will do everything I can to maintain
Your well-being for which I am so grateful,
But if you ever fall ill,
I will remain with you every second of every day
To let you know that I am willing to hurt for you.
If at any time, I leave you for my own selfishness
In a time that you need me when no one else will do,
I will know that I have failed as your parent,
Though that's not something
I'll ever be willing to do."