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I Don't Want

I Don’t WantI don’t want my boy to grow up,I don’t want my child to age,I don’t want his hair to thin and grey,or fear a war we wage.I don’t want for him to need a job,work each day to pay the bills,I don’t want him feeling aches and pains,I don’t want him taking pills. No need for him to feel the pain,that love and living brings.I want him to sleep late each day,and strum his guitar strings.I want my boy to stay a child,and be forever young.No care or worries about anything,just all day having fun. I don’t want to cheat him out of life,the joys of wife and children,but the worry that this life creates,makes peace of mind forbidden.I don’t want him worrying about his health,or job cuts at the office.To his heartbreaks and his tragedies,I won’t be an accomplice. I don’t want him waiting up all night,for his kids to come strolling in.I don’t want him counting the days until,his retirement can begin.I don’t want him worrying about how he’ll pay,for tuition, lights and heat.I don’t want him trying to feed five mouths,with just one piece of meat. Transforming into cats and dogs,like kittens and puppies grow,everyday my boy grows taller,a trend not about to slow.His voice keeps getting deeper,too soon he’ll be a man,small hints of teenage attitude,but he still holds his daddy’s hand.
— tbeaudet, Jul 23, 2008

About This Poem

About the Author

Region, Country: Boston, USA

Favorite Poets: Patti Smith, Lucinda Williams, John Prine, Bruce Springsteen, Jim Carroll, Bob Dylan, Tom Waites

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Critiques

Sinbadthesailorman

Sinbadthesailorman

17 years 10 months ago

All fathers I would think

would want this at some point and I feel so many of the feelings you have penned and shared The line that hits home though "I don't want to cheat him out of life" It strikes me some times as Jess's half brick would God if it could connect to his being To live this life is to share a pain that almost evryone of us has felt , will feel or need to feel to grow into mature beings although Don't get me wrong I am A great despizer of pain "the great teacher" I have hear it said more then once Heart touching I would like you to keep your fingers out of mine it is still beating Lovely read I shall read it more than once when I need something as close as a nitro pill I come to you and read it keeps my heart beating and at times it stalls quite reguarly thank you for sharing Donnie/Sinbad
tbeaudet

tbeaudet

17 years 10 months ago

Thanks Sinbad

Wouldn't we all like to protect our children from the tragedies of life? But as you say, it's all part of the journey and necessary for growing and maturing. I do appreciate your kind words. Tom
Rett

Rett

17 years 10 months ago

Tom

Time after time I marvel at what you write. I understand just where this comes from and I relate to each and every verse. Yo spare them the pain would be so great yet so wrong at the same time. We have to do what is right no matter how it hurts. Beautifully written and a great message to boot my friend. Another fiver from me. Respectfully, Rett: "A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on." Winston Churchill
t. reflexion

t. reflexion

17 years 10 months ago

Touching Lines

I feel deeply touched. All the things the poem is rejecting are the things we want for our kids. I could sense tears rising inside of me and 'I don't want' to cry. Thanks for sharing the poem. It is very good.