**

after years of carrying this
"it's not heavy, it's bulky"
the climb inevitable
and the fall apparently certain

hitchcock filmed my nightmares
and greek myths dictated my burdens
and surely opera played a part

the hardest part of parenting
is not what you expected;
it is not what you didn't expect;
it is that you get both together

the fear of edges and falling over
the overwhelming guilt for doing what i
always knew i would do

you can have help but you must
ask the right person
the precisely worded question
a verbal key in a maze of locks

after years of carrying this
surprise and expectation and
the constant fear of falling

every time you remember
"they look like big, good, strong hands"
you burst into tears. but they did
look like strong hands. they were.

Comments

[Carrie]

This is beautiful. Thanks.