I couldn’t tell my mother
That I had kissed a sailor.
She wouldn’t understand;
I’d feel the force of her hand.
My father would concur
He’d stand beside her
They’d both call me names
And give me all the blame
Because surely I knew
That’s not what I should do.

And though I still feel today
They knew no other way
I told myself they never knew
That what I was feeling was true.
It was an emotion stronger
And powerful and lasting longer
Than a whim or a fleeting crush.
A moment that made the world hush.
They saw it as a cause to grieve
And I saw it as something to believe.

That love was real and had power
To stretch a moment into an hour
Then the hour into a lovely week
That shows you what you seek
And teaches you what you deserve
If you simply act and have the nerve
To be who you are and be proud.
Look them in the eye and be proud.
Tell them you are sorry they’re upset;
You will love who you will with no regret.

Where are you going
my little one...
my precious son?
Why are you taking
my baby from me?

Close my eyes
and you're two...
Close my eyes
and you're four...
Close my eyes
and you're walking
right out of the door.

Where are you going
my little one...
my precious son?
You just keep growing
too quickly for me.

Close my eyes
and you're eight...
Close my eyes
and you're ten...
Close my eyes
and I just want
to hold you again.

Where are you going
my little one...
my precious son?
You've no way of knowing
how proud you make me.

Close my eyes
you're in school...
Close my eyes
and you're grown...
Close my eyes
and you're a father
precious son of your own.

Even though we are no longer joined
No longer sharing the same oxygen
the same blood
the same body.
Still you are a part of me
and no matter how far
how much time passess by
you will always, always, always be

From newborn baby in my arms
to toddler with a smile that steals my heart
to child who has a zest for life
to teen that causes so much strife
as young adult I had to let you go
just a little, I'm still here you know

I watch you striding forth with pride
My love I can't contain or hide
You are my gifts, my life, my heart
We will never truly be apart
My child this love is like no other
the boundless, endless love of a Mother

You raised them
You should keep them
And pay all their bills;
What you raised spills
Over into the common weal
And fears become real
As they are ignorant
Greedy and mean
Worst we’ve ever seen
And no hope of salvation
From your creation.

Are you afraid of your kid?
Is that what you did;
Let him or her do whatever
And you never told them
What is wisdom or whim?
Let them do what they please
As long as they don’t sneeze
In church or belch loudly
Then you can go on proudly
Bragging about your good child
Until they run totally wild
And get themselves arrested.
Then your lies are bested
And your laziness outed.
No wonder you pouted.

When things go wrong
You want someone to come along
And take care of things
And pay the fines that brings
Because they are sweet, down deep.
Then you go back to sleep
Because life should be easy for you
And the things your kids do
Are not your fault, so back out to buy
More magazines about movie stars
And slobber over newer cars
And ***** about the schools
Not teaching them the rules
And how to pursue them
Then you go out and sue them
For teaching what you do
And not what kids should do.

You told me lying was a sin;
You lied.
You told me cheating was a sin;
You cheated.
You told me adultery was a sin;
You cheated.
You told me stealing was a sin;
You stole.
You told me cursing was a sin;
You cursed.
You told me dishonoring my country was a sin;
You dishonored my country.
You told me to keep my promises;
You didn’t.
You told me to live by the Golden Rule;
You didn’t.
You told me to be careful of the company I keep;
You aren’t.
You told me to help those poorer than I;
You don’t.
You told me to be an example to youth;
You aren’t.
A question arises, by and by;
Is everything you said a big lie?

You annoy me
sometimes
You make me want to bang my head against the steering wheel
sometimes
And sometimes,
I rest my head against yours
with my crying eyes looking into your sleeping eyes
wondering why it is that I can't do it all right
for you.
Why sometimes when your face is filled with amazement
gazing up at the starlit sky
you tap me on the shoulder to remind me there is a moon,
but I'm sometimes too busy
looking down at my toes
wondering when the next time I can get a pedicure will be?
Because when you have a child,
they say "your life is over"
which is entirely true.
Life starts over
and sometimes I find I have to remind myself
that paying this bill right NOW is not what life is dependent on.
I would tell you
that next time I'll get it right
but it's sometimes not true.
You are teaching me how to live again,
and with learning comes mistakes.
But there is one thing I know to be true,
I may not know how to be the perfect parent
but I know how to perfectly love you.

When I was a youngster
It was too easy to trust
Older now, I’m choosy
And I feel I must
Pay attention to what
Folks say and what they do
Those who would abuse me
Must prove themselves true.

As I grew I noticed
How much was said was false.
I started then to learn
I had to learn the calls
Of those who were being
Just socially polite
And those who were cheaters
I saw that was not right.

But even the most polite
Of carefully chosen untruth
Seemed a bit off kilter
To the a questioning youth.
I learned I should never
Admit a dress made girls fat.
And I learned one could not
Call someone’s kid a brat.

But I never have gotten over
The strong public insistence
That I ignore their crimes.
To that I still feel resistance.
So, I can’t agree with anyone
When voted into public office.
I find myself being very hard
When so many of them are pompous.

I know I will never agree
To hate people who are different.
I guess the day I was born
I didn’t come with that equipment,
And even though friends
And family sought to teach me
How to be a bigoted ****,
The lessons didn’t reach me.

No matter what we do or say,
I’ll be here for you any day.

No matter how our paths may part,
You’ll always be within my Heart.

And though my words are not top-dressed,
They’ll wish for you the very best.

No matter Red or Gold or the midst of Blue,
My Love will always be with you.

And no matter how weak my voice may sound,
We’ll meet with clarity on the Higher Ground.