Present Tense

Present Tense (a poem by Jason Lehman)
It was spring, but it was summer I wanted,
The warm days, and the great outdoors.
It was summer, but it was fall I wanted,
The colorful leaves, and the cool, dry air.
It was fall, but it was winter I wanted,
The beautiful snow, and the joy of the holiday season.
It was winter, but it was spring I wanted,
The warmth and the blossoming of nature.
I was a child, but it was adulthood I wanted,
The freedom and respect.
I was 20, but it was 30 I wanted,
To be mature, and sophisticated.
I was middle-aged, but it was 20 I wanted,
The youth and the free spirit.
I was retired, but it was middle-age I wanted,
The presence of mind without limitations.
My life was over, and I never got what I wanted.


Ryan and I read this poem together when we were first married and every once in a while it pops into my head, lately quite often.  My children are growing and developing their own interests. My baby is registered for kindergarten. My roles as a mother are constant yet shifting and I'm finding myself redefining what that means as my family grows.  My friend Carrie reminded me that it is poetry month, so I dug this out to review it again.