Transcend Old Mom

By Mary Kaczowka

Thirty–year–old me
wanted my son
to manifest as a doctor
a lawyer, someone focused
accomplished
atmospherical even.

Forty–year–old me
merely wanted a child
graduated
from high school
able to care for himself
able to feed himself
to drive a car
legally
Pay his bills
not overdraw his account
and stay employed
longer than his usual
four days at a time.

Now, as my child
enters his own thirties
I’d settle for the fact
that he’s a good person
Someone who puts a roof
over his own child’s head
without me
standing and pointing
do this or that
Without me having
to will him to stand
on his own two feet.

Here–for–where–art–thou:
I have totally willed away
any thoughts of him filling
his mother’s shoes.