Megadodo
10-19-2007, 08:47 PM
You are a strong and wise mother.
You are a strong ship during calm waters and during rough storms.
To a Daughter Leaving Home
Linda Pastan
When I taught you
at eight to ride
a bicycle, loping along
beside you
as you wobbled away
on two round wheels,
my own mouth rounding
in surprise when you pulled
ahead down the curved
path of the park,
I kept waiting
for the thud
of your crash as I
sprinted to catch up,
while you grew
smaller, more breakable
with distance,
pumping, pumping
for your life, screaming
with laughter,
the hair flapping
behind you like a
handkerchief waving
goodbye.
LETTING GO TAKES LOVE
To let go does not mean to stop caring,
it means I can't do it for someone else.
To let go is not to cut myself off,
it's the realization I can't control another.
To let go is not to enable,
but allow learning from natural consequences.
To let go is to admit powerlessness, which means
the outcome is not in my hands.
To let go is not to try to change or blame another,
it's to make the most of myself.
To let go is not to care for,
but to care about.
To let go is not to fix,
but to be supportive.
To let go is not to judge,
but to allow another to be a human being.
To let go is not to be in the middle arranging all the outcomes,
but to allow others to affect their destinies.
To let go is not to be protective,
it's to permit another to face reality.
To let go is not to deny,
but to accept.
To let go is not to nag, scold or argue,
but instead to search out my own shortcomings and correct them.
To let go is not to adjust everything to my desires,
but to take each day as it comes and cherish myself in it.
To let go is not to criticize or regulate anybody,
but to try to become what I dream I can be.
To let go is not to regret the past,
but to grow and live for the future.
Release
I held you close to me
tried to surrounded you
and protected you with my love,
to keep you safe from all harm,
but it was not what you needed.
I wanted to keep you for myself
encircled, sheltered
Instead of allowing you to grow and flourish
spread your wings
explore your potential.
I now realize
I cannot contain you,
and that your happiness
is best discovered without me.
To let you go
knowing I must set you free,
This is the hardest task I have ever done.
Fly away
Fly high
Fly free
Disappear from my sight, quickly
and do not look back.
For if you do
You will see a smile
covering the broken heart.
But the tears of loss
are slowly replaced with tears of joy
knowing your happiness will soon follow.
May your wings take you
to magical places,
and all your dreams
be fulfilled.
Be happy in all you do
and may one day find your true love.
That is what I have always wanted for you.
You are a strong ship during calm waters and during rough storms.
To a Daughter Leaving Home
Linda Pastan
When I taught you
at eight to ride
a bicycle, loping along
beside you
as you wobbled away
on two round wheels,
my own mouth rounding
in surprise when you pulled
ahead down the curved
path of the park,
I kept waiting
for the thud
of your crash as I
sprinted to catch up,
while you grew
smaller, more breakable
with distance,
pumping, pumping
for your life, screaming
with laughter,
the hair flapping
behind you like a
handkerchief waving
goodbye.
LETTING GO TAKES LOVE
To let go does not mean to stop caring,
it means I can't do it for someone else.
To let go is not to cut myself off,
it's the realization I can't control another.
To let go is not to enable,
but allow learning from natural consequences.
To let go is to admit powerlessness, which means
the outcome is not in my hands.
To let go is not to try to change or blame another,
it's to make the most of myself.
To let go is not to care for,
but to care about.
To let go is not to fix,
but to be supportive.
To let go is not to judge,
but to allow another to be a human being.
To let go is not to be in the middle arranging all the outcomes,
but to allow others to affect their destinies.
To let go is not to be protective,
it's to permit another to face reality.
To let go is not to deny,
but to accept.
To let go is not to nag, scold or argue,
but instead to search out my own shortcomings and correct them.
To let go is not to adjust everything to my desires,
but to take each day as it comes and cherish myself in it.
To let go is not to criticize or regulate anybody,
but to try to become what I dream I can be.
To let go is not to regret the past,
but to grow and live for the future.
Release
I held you close to me
tried to surrounded you
and protected you with my love,
to keep you safe from all harm,
but it was not what you needed.
I wanted to keep you for myself
encircled, sheltered
Instead of allowing you to grow and flourish
spread your wings
explore your potential.
I now realize
I cannot contain you,
and that your happiness
is best discovered without me.
To let you go
knowing I must set you free,
This is the hardest task I have ever done.
Fly away
Fly high
Fly free
Disappear from my sight, quickly
and do not look back.
For if you do
You will see a smile
covering the broken heart.
But the tears of loss
are slowly replaced with tears of joy
knowing your happiness will soon follow.
May your wings take you
to magical places,
and all your dreams
be fulfilled.
Be happy in all you do
and may one day find your true love.
That is what I have always wanted for you.