The Bear Poem

Early in my world when I was young and free

I met a boy and asked myself, "Is this he?"

He held out his hand, with a smile of joy

I got that feeling, "Am I Helen of Troy?"

Mom and Dad voiced their disapproval

"You're being hard-headed, as usual

"He is a drop-out, what life will you have?"

"Its nothing serious," I said with a laugh.

The days flew by and things went way out of hand

Confused and worried, a pregnancy unplanned.

Too young to be a wife, too young to be a mother,

Why did this happen? How will I tell my father?

"You will marry my daughter and pull her out of shame.

She is studying for her future, you must do the same.

Once the ceremony is over, my daughter stays with me.

You go home to your parents, wherever they may be."

The boy never got past being a boy

He loved his friends, he loved his toys.

With a second child on the way

I had to be strong despite the clouds of gray

My father died of cancer when he was fifty eight

One of his last words were "Help my daughter set her life straight"

I feared the future without my father

Who will defend me and my children against this monster?

Sixteen years, three children and buckets of tears later

I decided to make my life better

I hauled my three kids and entrusted them into my mother's hands

I then found myself working in a foreign land.

The monster could not keep up with the responsibility

Packed his bags and left without saying sorry

I could not cry a tear of remorse

I laughed, jumped and celebrated this divorce.

I loved the new freedom, I loved being me.

I was happy but deep inside, I felt empty

As if fate had it all planned,

Here comes a man with his words, "Its okay, I understand."

We have now been together for eight blissful years

The union of like minds and like hearts braving new frontiers.

He took on the task of being my children's father

Looked after each child to ensure they would not falter

As we hold hands on a quiet Sunday evening,

Sharing dreams and hopes, both hearts smiling.

I raise my glass, "To infinity and beyond!" I say

He squeezes my hand and whispers, "Here's to forever and a day!"

I have three wonderful children now in their prime,

A roof over my head, food on the table, clothes on my back, and some spare time.

And I have a husband who loves me unconditionally,

For all these, I thank God dearly.

P.S. This is my second attempt at writing a poem. The first attempt was when I was 15 years old. Unfortunately, I was not able to save a copy.