Cassie Bustamante

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My First Shared Poem

March 7, 2021 by Cassie 12 Comments

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My first shared poem

Happy Monday morning, friend. Last week, I told you about a poem that I wrote that was going to be sent out in the O.Henry Magazine weekly newsletter called The Sazerac. I wrote this poem after a rather frustrating evening of parenting during the pandemic at our house and posted it on facebook for my friends to read. I knew that it would resonate with some of them and I hoped it would show them that they are not alone. We are in this together.  My editor read it and asked me to include it in the “Poet’s Corner” of our newsletter.  I was floored, ecstatic and a little apprehensive. Imposter syndrome is a very real thing. We ask ourselves, “Who am I to share this poem? Who am I to think I can write at all?” Well, I ask you, “Who are you not to?” And in that spirit, I am sharing this poem with you today.  It’s vulnerable but it’s honest and real and I hope that it helps some of you out there who have had these feelings in this challenging year.  Without further ado, from last week’s Sazerac, I bring you Bounce.

Bounce

We tell you it’s time to go,
away from your fellow unicorn hunters,
the soccer teammates who are your brothers.
Together, we say good-bye to the cape on the hill
where memories and your baby brother were made,
the sprawling yard filled with chicken feathers and memories of Frisbee tosses,
where two dogs are buried under the tall pines.
It’s OK, I tell myself,
kids are resilient.

You’ll make new friends, we tell you
as we shoo you out the door,
then peek out the window to the bus stop,
hold our breath.
Later, when baby and I play in the afternoon sun,
I’m praying that maybe you’ve gotten some numbers,
made some connections.
You come home,
walk inside to your room, close the door.
My heart breaks some more.
But, I remind myself,
kids are resilient.

In time, we settle into our routine.
You walk to the ice cream shop with new friends,
sharing secrets and giggles.
You dart across the soccer field,
passing the ball to a boy I don’t yet know.
You’re finding your groove.
We’re finding our groove.
I knew we would.
Kids are resilient.

You’ve done the work, bounced back as expected.
But no one could have predicted
your teen years would be tainted by unprecedented times.
I see your silent pain,
see you struggle and falter,
hear you long before you tell me
“I’ve lost motivation, Mom.”
Dad and I do our best, but we also falter.
We’ve never navigated these waters.
Now, on my knees, I ask,
Let my kids be resilient.

– Cassie Bustamante

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Comments

  1. Erika says

    March 8, 2021 at 6:29 am

    6:30 am, drinking my coffee and crying. This is beautiful. And I totally get it. Thank you for your vulnerability and for posting!

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      March 8, 2021 at 7:23 am

      Aaaaw, thank you so much for reading it, Erika! I so appreciate you.

      Reply
  2. Mimi Matthews says

    March 8, 2021 at 10:09 am

    Yes, it does resonate! I have two special-needs teens and I also am praying that they can be resilient. That they can navigate this crazy time we are living in. Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      March 8, 2021 at 2:20 pm

      I know that they can, but it’s still so hard to watch them navigate, isn’t it?

      Reply
  3. Revital Mitchell says

    March 8, 2021 at 10:11 am

    Beautiful!

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      March 8, 2021 at 2:18 pm

      Thank you so much!

      Reply
  4. Shawn Herbert says

    March 8, 2021 at 11:13 am

    Just beautiful, Cassie.

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      March 8, 2021 at 2:18 pm

      Thank you, Shawn!

      Reply
  5. [email protected] says

    March 8, 2021 at 6:20 pm

    Oh Cassie it’s absolutely beautiful. It definitely resonates with me and I am crying again because I just had a conversation with Noa that was similar.

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      March 9, 2021 at 5:46 pm

      I know you totally get me on this. XOXO

      Reply
  6. Heather says

    March 9, 2021 at 10:48 am

    This is SO beautiful! Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      March 9, 2021 at 5:38 pm

      Thank you for taking the time to read it!

      Reply

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Hi, I’m Cassie!

I believe that you don't have to spend a lot of money to live a beautiful life and be your best self.  Here you will find budget friendly ideas to live happily, healthily, sustainably, and most importantly authentically.  We all get one chance at this life, and this ordinary girl plans to make hers extraordinary. How about you? Read more...
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Hi! I'm Cassie.

Mother, wife, shop owner, blogger, writer, incurable diy-er, furniture painter, coffee and wine drinker, friend. Seeking happiness and passing it on. Read More…

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