Thrown Out With The Bath Water
Forlorn and forgotten
She remembers it like it was only yesterday,
When she was young, not much more than a teen,
The first time she held her offspring,
Her protective instinct never before seen.
***
She cradled you in her love,
Wrapped you in cotton wool, nurtured and cared,
Her only reward was your precious smile,
Your happy giggle, your achievements shared.
***
She sacrificed her all, to ensure your safety,
Your happiness, your lessons, your place,
Giving up her sleep, her peace of mind,
Just to watch the glow of your smiling face.
***
She worried constantly that she wasn’t enough,
That she wasn’t raising you to become your best,
Trying to give you your independence,
Your wings to fly from her cushioned nest.
***
She watched from the sidelines as you excelled,
Continuing to sacrifice from afar,
Nothing was too much, never uttering the word no,
Not if it guided you to becoming a star.
***
She cried alone at night while you slept,
Never showing her heart that had been shattered,
By your careless words, you taking her for granted,
Pretending and feeling she never mattered.
***
She was fine with these sacrifices for you,
As you are her greatest achievement,
She’d forgo everything to see you happy,
Whilst silently suffering her own bereavement.
***
Then the day arrives where she’s cast aside,
She’s gotten older, no longer much use to you,
You’ve your own life, your own plans, your own goals,
Confident in your life, no longer needing her view.
***
Cast aside at the pinnacle,
Useless in her golden years,
Alone, silently heartbroken,
Suddenly having to face her fears.
***
She is quietly forgotten,
Her golden years to be lived alone,
Her sacrifices never remembered,
Not now that you’re all grown.
***
Cast aside, no longer important,
Feeling bereft now you’re too busy to even call,
Thrown out with the bath water,
Forgotten between the hours of dawn and nightfall.
Please click the link below my name to read more of my work. I would also like to thank you for taking the time to read this today and for all your support.
If you enjoy this piece, you may enjoy this one too.
Please visit my website if you'd like more information on my newly published book, Battle Angel : The Ultimate She Warrior.
Originally published on Medium
About the Creator
Colleen Millsteed
My first love is poetry — it’s like a desperate need to write, to free up space in my mind, to escape the constant noise in my head. Most of the time the poems write themselves — I’m just the conduit holding the metaphorical pen.
Enjoyed the story? Support the Creator.
Subscribe for free to receive all their stories in your feed. You could also pledge your support or give them a one-off tip, letting them know you appreciate their work.
Reader insights
Outstanding
Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!
Top insights
Compelling and original writing
Creative use of language & vocab
Easy to read and follow
Well-structured & engaging content
Excellent storytelling
Original narrative & well developed characters
Expert insights and opinions
Arguments were carefully researched and presented
Eye opening
Niche topic & fresh perspectives
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
Masterful proofreading
Zero grammar & spelling mistakes
On-point and relevant
Writing reflected the title & theme
Keep reading
More stories from Colleen Millsteed and writers in Poets and other communities.
Comments (4)
Write about this as much as you need to my friend. I will be here reading every one of them. It's the least I can do to help you in this process. Sending you hugs!
I have a hunch that with the level of sensitivity you display in your writing, your child/children have never forgotten all you have done & been for them. It may not always feel like it, but I'm guessing (& hoping) they hold you very dear. There is a children's book we've held as a theme for our family (as a matter of fact, I just wrote the message again in my wife's Easter card): "I'll Love You Forever". We've pretty much gifted it for every first born child's baby shower (or first baby for which we've been around to gift it). It means as much if not more to us than it did to our son. It constantly reminds us that love never ends, it never dies. I highly recommend it if you haven't already read it.
Great job ❤️
Outstanding!!! Left some love!!!💖💖💕