Originally published in LLL of Western Pennsylvania’s PennsyLLL Points West, Spring 1999
When I was a girl, forever was until my fourth birthday
. . . Mommy on the phone
. . . until Daddy came home from work.
When I was a teenager, forever was a pimple
. . . until summer vacation
. . . the walk home from high school
. . . my senior year.
When I was living on my own, forever was finding a job
. . . living in a trailer park
. . . typing for my boss.
When I worked at a school, forever was Wednesday teachers’ meetings
. . . until Christmas vacation
. . . writing report cards
. . . finding a nice guy.
When I got married, forever was until I got pregnant
. . . my husband’s graveyard shifts
. . . qualifying for a home loan.
When I became a mother, forever was my eighth month
. . . until my milk came in
. . . my babies learning to walk
. . . how long they nursed
. . . until I slept through the night.
And now my scariest forever looks down at me
My little babies in tall, teenage bodies
. . . racing to be all grown up
forever.
Post a Comment