Comforting poem for new mums!

[Kazziemb]

Seeing as Mother's Day is nearly upon us, I thought I would share this lovely poem by Rosemary Norman ( I sent it in to Vanessa Feltz at BBC Radio London earlier today and she just read it out!). I found it comforting when I'd just had DS....Apologies if it has already appeared on the site...

Lullaby

Go to sleep, Mum,
I won't stop breathing
suddenly, in the night.

Go to sleep, I won't
climb out of my cot and
tumble downstairs.

Mum, I won't swallow
the pills the doctor gave you or
put hairpins in electric
sockets, just go to sleep.

I won't cry
when you take me to school and leave me:
I'll be happy with other children
my own age.

Sleep, Mum, sleep.
I won't
fall in the pond, play with matches,
run under a lorry or even consider
sweets from strangers.

No, I won't
give you a lot of lip,
not like some.

I won't sniff glue,
fail all my exams,
get myself/
my girlfriend pregnant.
I'll work hard and get a steady/
really worthwhile job.

I promise, go to sleep.
I'll never forget
to drop in/phone/write
and if
I need any milk, I'll yell.

...also I hope I have posted this in the best thread, wanted to give reassurance x

. That is about as far removed from anything that could be described as poetry as it is possible for a thing to be.

It is utter rubbish, and patently untrue. Lots of children fall out of cots, swallow poisons and end up in dead end jobs.

It doesn't make the child or the parent crappy people.

Are you actually familar with any good poetry?

TheMoa
Yes I am familiar with 'good' poetry and yes I know crap things happen to kids and parents too -

'It doesn't make the child or the parent crappy people' -

I don't think it is trying to say that! It is just one outlook - doesn't mean it's right or wrong. Some will love it others will hate it. I know mums who have found it comforting (myself included even though I have had crap things to deal with too), you obviously don't which is fine, that's your opinion.

sorry but I agree with kazziebm its not a great poem but I guess its all subjective but OP if you can relate to it and it spoke to you then that's great - not sure you will get many others being excited by that 'poem'

also not sure how you think this is comforting? all the things in the poem can and do happen to children every day so not sure it comforts me much

sorry meant to say I agree with TheMoa - I obviously need more sleep as per the said poem

This poem was on the GCSE syllabus for YEARS, people! It's definitely poetry!

I always enjoyed teaching it because of the way it's put together. However I would not describe it as a reassuring poem for new mums. It really, really chimes with teenagers though .

TheMoa you have massively misunderstood the point of the poem!

.....I just found it an antidote to all the horror stories.....I'm well aware of what can happen to children (a paedophile targeted me as a child, I was lucky as I got away from him but it stays with me and has made me over protective of my own child), This poem just helped me to feel more positive when I was feeling very anxious, and I thought it might help someone else.

The poem isn't literally saying 'I won't climb out of my cot'...etc etc,
I took from it (probably wrongly??): 'mum you are doing a great job, get some rest, I know what you're worrying about... I will be ok....STOP WORRYING'

Gosh some people are keen to see the worst. Thanks OP I appreciate the sentiment and the intention in your post. I'm having a wobbly PND day and this is exactly what I needed - I know it could happen but needed to be reminded that I probably won't.
(I know I'm posting WAY after the event, but was shocked by the miserablism (?) of the responses.)

Thanks Kazziemb, I really liked it, and took it exactly in the sense you described- as in giving you a second of grace to just stop worrying for a moment...much needed...thanks x