A Parent's Burden Poem by soren Barrett

I feel the pain of my children
sensing the stress in their voice
they are flesh of my flesh
with their joy I rejoice

knowing the turmoil in their demeanor
I tense with their fears
blood of my blood
I cry their tears

I sense impending strife
The terror of their bed
where their nightmares of life
echos in my head

I quake with troubles they encounter
I cringe with their unvoiced shouts
I'm saddened with their failures
I tremble with their doubts

I cry when their needs go unmet
Their turmoil I retain
I sweat their sweat
though broken from me, they still remain

I can not divorce them
I can see what they can not see
Their feelings are mine
although they reject me