Mommy still loves you though

The little boy, his heart yearned

When he asked his mother

“When are you picking me up?”

He had no concept of legal custody

But he loved her and wanted that visitation

*

The little boy, his soul thrilled

When he heard her answer:

“This weekend my dearest love.”

He trusted her and her word implicitly

For he felt such unwavering adoration

*

But the poor boy, his joy failed

When she called him later:

“I’m sorry my dearest love,

But I can not pick you up this Saturday.”

He frowned and sighed and asked for some explanation

*

The little boy, his tears spilled

As he listened to her

—blathering over face time

about this excuse and that difficulty—

His poor, trusting heart swallowed her fabrications

*

Then over the phone she crooned:

“Mommy still loves you though!”

And the boy believed that too

Then she chirped and twittered: “don’t cry sweetie pie.”

“Next time, baby” was her final consolation

*

The little boy, his face paled

But he still adored her

His love for her never quailed

He had no concept of her dishonesty

And his broken heart bore her no accusation

*

The deadbeat mother goes on:

Flashes her broad, blameless grin

Smiles through her own little plans

—those she holds at the highest priority—

And wills herself blind to her son’s devastation

***

***

***

Authors note:

My heart goes out to any child who was hurt by the rejection and neglect of an absent mother or father. Feels all the worse when the kid is strung along with empty promises from the adults who step out instead of stepping up...