Your Trophy Child Poem by Chris Embrick

Before I was six years of age
you had already decided my future
you had your life, your dreams
but gave me little room to choose mine
As a young boy, you were my hero
and I tried so hard to make you proud
it was in High School that I began to see
that you only wanted bragging rights:
I was your trophy child.

Each time I won you shared the honor
each time I lost you shared the shame
so many times,
you destroyed my self-confidence
even when I came in second place
I saw the disappointment in your face.

Here I am now thirty-five
a successful businessman and artist
determined to allow my children freedom
to live out their own life dreams
with love and patience I'll guide them
but never put them through the harsh discipline
you put me through.

And if my son wants to play baseball or soccer
or my daughter wants to be a comedian
I'll be their biggest fan
it was only as an adult
that my secret life of duplicity ended
and I put down my baseball glove
and picked up a paint brush

Even today, it's my brother who
gets most of your attention
But maybe, just maybe
you're a wee bit proud after all
at least you hung one of my paintings
on the wall for all to see.