.
Like those nesting dolls
in graduated sizes
my sons became
encased each year
inside of bigger boys.
Now grown and sealed
inside tall men
they’re unaware
I still see through
a mother’s eyes
to all those younger little boys
still playing deep inside.
.
.
(c) 1992, 2021 Betty Hayes Albright
(A re-post; also previously published in Skipping Stones)
.
This week my first born son turns 50….!
(Hard to grasp, as I still haven’t accepted that I’m over 50! 😊 )
And I still often see that little boy still playing deep inside him.
Seasonings 
I like the idea of nesting dolls as a metaphor for the child, teen, young adult, nesting inside of the man. Thank you.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you, I’m glad you liked the metaphor, Ali. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh! Betty I feel this too, you have said
it so beautifully. 💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Willow! Glad to hear from you – afraid I’m way behind reading blogs again. Will be catching up with you soon. ❤
LikeLike
I am going no where Betty , we are still in lockdown.💜💜💜
LikeLike
A wonderful poem, Betty. Sad that people are fearful of hugging those they love. We have gone past that and are alright with hugging if we see one another. I believe some of my family members had this last Winter and just like other viruses it will be here every year…that is my belief…like influenza and colds. A part of living and of life. Do take care and yes, Spring cometh!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Renee.
And I think you might be right about the virus. My husband and I are a little paranoid about it since his best friend died of it along with his wife. My son also has a friend who died from it. I likely had it last spring and am still having breathing problems. Hopefully it’ll mutate into something less deadly in the years ahead.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful, Betty. They may be taller than us, but they are still our boys.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Sue! Indeed, they’ll always be our boys.
LikeLike
Always 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
This is beautifully expressed – the year-to-year “nesting” of maturing is real in daughters as well.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you so much, Jazz.
And yes, in daughters too. I was never blessed with a daughter but can witness it in our granddaughters. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Captured so beautifully. 💕 I think we can see the nesting dolls, and then pass it on to others or a new generation who can appreciate it’s the wisdom of the layers.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I think so too, Val – about the wisdom of the layers. Thank you so much for your insightful comment. 💗
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wisdom of the layers …. yes 💕🙏💕
LikeLiked by 2 people
Sons as seen through a mother’s eyes and her heart.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes, we moms have a special perspective. It’s good to hear from you, Sharon. ❤
LikeLike
So nice, Betty. So true, they’ll always be our babies. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed! It just blows me away how fast these 50 years blew by. ☺
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh that captures it perfectly! I cannot believe that my ‘baby’ is 20 next week….
A wise person once told me when I was 21, “Your parents look at you and can see the toddler within”. That certainly explained my mothers behavior at the time.
LikeLiked by 2 people
20 is quite the milestone! Happy birthday to your son, Kim. 🙂
(I wrote that poem when my oldest was 21. Be prepared for the next three decades to fly by! ☺ )
LikeLiked by 1 person
The last two have been fast enough….
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think we all see those nested dolls, both forward and backward. I could see the mother of my childhood inside the silent Alzheimers one. (K)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good point, Kerfe. Now that you mention it, I could see the same in my own mom. (She too had Alzheimers. ) Thanks so much for your comment.
(BTW, I’m sorry to be so behind reading blogs — hoping to catch up with yours soon! )
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thats OK Betty. Its hard for all of us to read everything. We just do our best.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely and eye can thoroughly relate to a my motherly love of my little 33 year old boy that eye cherish.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m so glad you can relate, Joanna. Thanks so much for commenting. 🙂
LikeLike
‘Son Sets’ is a lovely poem, Betty. And, as a dad and grandad, I understand your Russian dolls analogy perfectly. My eldest daughter is now 49 and my eldest granddaughter 28. Aye, “tempus fugit”, as my dearly departed dad was wont to say: “time flies”.
Hope your son enjoyed his 50th.
Look after yourself, Betty. With these dreadful covid variants on the rampage, we cannot be careful enough.
Stay safe and well,
Paul
LikeLiked by 2 people
A belated thank you for your thoughtful comment, Paul. I’m pleased you liked this one and that you can relate.
You stay safe and in good health too. I hope you and yours have been able to get the covid vaccine. We’re in the process of that here though cases are beginning to surge again.
Take good care,
Betty
LikeLike
I can definitely relate to this beautiful poem, Betty, and I love the metaphor of nesting dolls. The other day I listened to the song, Slipping through my Fingers, from Mama Mia, and tears flowed, thinking of Steph in TN and Michael soon to move to DC. Matt and I are happy to see our children pave their own paths, but good-byes hurt like *&^%$. 🙂 I hope your son had a wonderful 50th!
Sending love and hugs, my friend. xoxoxo
LikeLiked by 3 people
Oh Lauren, a belated thank you. I’m so sorry for being out of touch. (Health problems here…)
I see you’ve had a birthday recently and are having a book published soon! Please let me know when it’s available.
Will try to email you soon. We need to get caught up.
Hugs ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m sorry to hear about health issues, Betty, so just take care of you! Write if you’re up to it. Yes, a lot is going on, but all good. Sending hugs, dear friend. xoxoxo
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sweet and poignant, Betty. Love the analogy! 😝💕
LikeLiked by 2 people
A belated thank you, dear Bela! ❤🦋
LikeLiked by 1 person
💕
LikeLiked by 2 people
Lovely poem dear Betty… Yes we are still young at heart… When our children are grown… We cannot believe we are still not in our own prime.. We are all young at heart…
Much love your way I hope your Son had a lovely birthday….Late as I am in arriving… ❤ Hugs your way
LikeLiked by 2 people
A belated thank you, Sue! Sorry I’m very behind here — will be catching up with posts soon.
Hugs back to you ❤❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
No Worries…. we all have priorities other than our blogs.. ❤ as it should be.. ❤
LikeLiked by 2 people
Charming and lyrical!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, it’s great to hear from you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Came back to read this poem again – as a mother of 2 sons, it touches my heart.
Hope you’re well, Betty. We’ve both been off the grid for a bit but I’m thinking of you. Happy Mother’s Day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sharon, it’s so good to hear from you! I hope you had a really nice Mother’s Day.
Yes, off the grid (health issues) but hoping to post something again one of these days. I hope you’ve been well and that we can stay in touch one way or another.
Thank you so much for reaching out. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is beautiful . The incongruous fiction of time and the mother’s eye that is centred in origins
LikeLiked by 2 people