What Did You Do To Me That Day? Poem by Susan Ash

What did you do
To me that day?
You taught me the
Most valuable lesson
Of my life
But I was too young.
Just a child.
It was too early.

You taught me that
In this life I have to
Take care of myself.
You taught me I have
To look out for others.
That to protect the ones I love
Can mean self sacrifice,
Putting their needs
Above mine.
Hide my own feelings.

But I was too young
I misunderstood.
I thought this meant
I couldn’t ask for help
When I needed it....
If I couldn’t ask you
Then there was no-one.

My mother, by your actions
I learnt all this in
One short minute.
A child’s interpretation,
To stay with me
For the rest of my life.