Mother of the groom

He’s my first
He stole my heart
He taught me love
He taught me laughter
I learned deep
Sadness at his pain

We played games
We built forts
I laughed at jokes
That made no sense

I made it through the
“Mom, you’re old and don’t know” stage
Taught him to drive
Long car rides
Captive audience
And we’d talk
Heaven

College
I visited
I provided all I could
I moved him out on the last day
From dorm
With girls sleeping in room still at noon
And bottles
And cups
And nothing
Nothing
Packed
It was and is ok

And he graduated and moved home
For 11 months
And wanted independence
He got his own apt

The tectonic plates began to shift
I saw him less
And his girlfriend moved in

Three years later
He bought a house
I’m very proud
He just got engaged

I see him about once a month for 15-20 minutes
He’s the same
And my heart skips
And melts
And when he leaves
I’m sad

Soon he will be married
He will be busier
The plates will shift more

The mother of the groom
I want you sometimes back
In your room
I want your smile right next to me
And I know wishes cannot should not be

The natural progression of life
You raise, you pour inside all of your heart
Because you have no choice, you love your child
And when they grow, move on
You find the plates have moved and you hold a different spot

Kat