Wednesday, April 15, 2009

split moment

perched to the wall
she watched her
her baby gurgling, holding
on to the sides of the tub
splashing water all over her
both allured by each other's smile
lost in the world of their own
when the doorbell rang
it intruded between the moment

baby, I do have to go
but only for a minute or two

that is what the mother said,
before standing up
no, she did not

leave her baby unwatched

after seventeen years
vivid images of her baby
runs through her mind

" that baby who was lost from her in a split moment"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Someone I know, lost her 16-month-old daughter seventeen years back. She drowned in a bathtub. The mother had asked her sister-in-law to watch the baby for a few minutes. Now both live in regret.

24 comments:

Sherri B. said...

This is so tragic...when I hear stories like these, I really do wonder how the parents are able to go on. The guilt must be unbearable.

Jeeves said...

Very very sad. Its so difficult on parents.

dsnake1 said...

wow, the ending was like a punch to the gut.

Thom Gabrukiewicz said...

Tragic and heartfelt.

floreta said...

how horrible. i can only imagine the pain. if to only bring that split moment back and do over again.

anthonynorth said...

Tragic, but so well written.

Lorraine said...

You write well of Hell on earth, and I can't think of a worse hell for mothers

SweetTalkingGuy.. said...

Crumbs, this really brings it home to you - you just can't be vigilant enough.

Deborah Godin said...

That kind of grief and remose must be the most acute!

Kimberly said...

As a mother this poem hit me hard. Well done.

Philip Thrift said...

Captured the past painful moment and present memory perfectly.

Anonymous said...

You have told the tale of a mother's regret and anguish. Well done!

http://lori102870.blogspot.com/2009/04/procrastinationnapowrimo-15by-tlb.html

pia said...

I'm not a mother and I can't imagine a more tragic thing

As usual very beautiful

polona said...

horrible... but so well written

Whitesnake said...

Thjat is the sad part aye, ya just never know.........

Angel said...

How sad. I can't imagine her pain.

Tumblewords: said...

Oh, how sad this is - and true so many times. Well captured, however!

Wayne Pitchko said...

well written as usual..as a father and grandfather of 4 little ones...i can't imagine....must be horible...and certainly reminds us how fragile life is

susan said...

that is sad.

Bsquared86 said...

Oh my goodness! The ending took me by surprise. Very well written! Thank you for sharing!

Anya Padyam said...

Oh! oh! it is so sad... split second!!

wow! that must be some burden of guilt!

ladygarfield said...

gosh! that's sad. and so well written.

when the musics over said...

You had me in an "aww" moment with the "allure of each others smile". Then, the doorbell rung! What a horrible thought. Captivating tale.

Janice Thomson said...

A tragic tale well penned Guatami.