I Had A Thought

I had a thought, then it was gone – 
a soap bubble bursting 
in the too-bright sun.
It probably wasn't important;
another one will come along, I'm sure.

I had a life.
It started as one thing,
a happy dreaming child, 
who loved books and pretending.
The child grew to be a good student.
The student took a job,
that didn't lend itself to the places
her imagination led.
Wife and mother 
were added to her resume.
She did her best,
always hoping for a good review.
Mother is a good job,
but one that never ends,
and rarely comes with monetary compensation,
so it was back to the job that pays the bills,
until one day all the jobs are done,
only wife and mother remain.

I had dreams,
a cluster of colorful balloons, 
that one by one 
escaped my grasp,
and like the lost soap bubble of thought,
popped in the too-bright sun.

I still hold on to a few strings.
As I watch you taking chances
and working to make dreams come true,
at an age when I thought my life was set,
I think—
I had a life, 
but it's not done yet.

Elise Skidmore ©2024