Poems by Fran Watson

MY CHILDREN

Children learn what they live,
that's what they say,
what are my children
learning by their living?

Are they learning that people are loving
or unconcerned?
that they are loved by me
or that I don't care?

What are they learning by my behaviour?
Will they learn to be moral, responsible,
loving, caring, human beings,
or cynical, hurt, confused children,
never growing to their full capacity
because of my limits?

How do I limit them
when I scream and yell
when I dismiss them
because of their behaviour
or because I am "too busy to be bothered"
instead of listening
and quietly loving?

Help me, Lord, to stretch my limits
so that I, in turn, can stretch theirs.
Let me hold them loosely but lovingly in my hands
as You hold me in Yours
so that they can try and I can let them,
but still be close if they need me for comfort.

Copyright September 1979