For nine long months you carried me
your heartbeat was my own
and when the doctor cut that cord
you were ready to take me home
so many times you stayed awake
as you rocked me through the night
you held me close and sang to me
and whispered “everything’s alright”
you changed my diapers and wiped my nose
you tickled my belly and pinched my toes
and showed me how to talk
you picked me up every time I fell
and you chased away my fears
you fixed me up when I hurt myself
and you kissed away my tears
you cried the first day that I went to school
because you knew that I had to grow up
you smiled for me when I tried out for football
and at my games you would always show up
you blamed yourself when I started falling behind
and you tried so hard to keep me ahead
you did all you could to get me on track
but I only fell farther back instead
the more you tried to help me succeed
the more I pushed you away
and before I was old enough to leave
you couldn’t beg me to stay
you cried the first time the cops woke you up
your son being taken away
and when I called home that night from juvie hall
you knew just the right words to say
you blame yourself for my mistakes
and you wish you could help me change
you try so hard to find the problem
but you’re not the one to blame
you’ve been there through all the good times
and you always help me shoulder the bad
you never gave up or turned your back on me
and your love never let you stay mad
you’ve always been a hero to me
you’ve saved me over and over again
you will always mean the world to me
my mother, my mentor, my friend
one day you’ll grow old and you’ll need someone
to stay by your side and take care of you
and I’ll be right there like you’ve always been
to help you make it through
for nine long months you carried me
your heartbeat was my own
and to this day that heartbeat
is still the strongest love I’ve ever known.
Mark Barnett #895605, Washington State