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Fatherhood²: The One Thing I Want for my Children

Posted on February 17, 2014January 7, 2018 by Henry Elliss

9445811950_51ebe462f6_oSometimes, as I lay in my bed late at night
I find myself thinking of times yet to come
I’m sure we all do it, though we may try to fight
But my brain wonders “What will my children become?”

I picture their school days, their friends and their lives
All the days when they’re older – when men, fully grown
I imagine their interests, their families and wives
(Though I hope they’ll be happy even if they’re alone)

9060118353_6d43cd38b2_oBut as I lay thinking, about my grown boys
I realise, there’s only one thing that they need
Only one thing I hope, that’ll give me such joy
But they’ll only learn this, when they see how we lead

It’s isn’t a ‘life skill’, it’s not ‘be well rounded’
It isn’t a language, a grade or a sport
It isn’t a trick that will leave you dumbfounded
And it certainly isn’t traditionally ‘taught’

9181598125_e9a6315783_oIt’s something that should help them later in life
When meeting new people, or finding some work
It’ll help them when finding a partner or wife
And ensure people don’t think my sons are both jerks.

Of course, I want both of my boys to do well
I’ll help them to get there however I might
I’ll help them with Maths, and I’ll help them to spell
I’ll give them advice, show them how to do right

9428272155_a1d21bcd8f_oBut the one thing I want, for both of my sons
The thing that I crave when I look in their eyes
The thing that I desperately hope they’ll become
Is quite simple – I just want my sons to be nice

I want to be sat with my boys at the table
In twenty years time, with their mother and me
We’ll see all our family, whenever we’re able
And I hope that my boys will be good company

9289339033_feef289589_oIt might not be easy – though they’re always a pleasure
And who knows if they’ll get there quickly or not?
But niceness is really quite easy to measure
They’re people we want to spend time with a lot.

So as I lay dozing, as I stare at the ceiling
I plan for the future, both the sunshine and clouds
But thankfully, I’ve got a very good feeling
That both boys will make me incredibly proud

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2 thoughts on “Fatherhood²: The One Thing I Want for my Children”

  1. Francis Linardo says:
    February 17, 2014 at 11:40 pm

    I liked it. It read smooth, made sense, and not a cheesy rhyme in the whole deal. Nice job Henry.

    Of course be advised, my poetry experience/knowledge extends no farther than Green Eggs & Ham. So who knows.

  2. Larry says:
    February 18, 2014 at 3:01 am

    I often wonder what the future holds for my boys. I wonder where they will go in life. Like you, my greatest concern is that they find something satisfying and that they are decent people.

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henweb

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