An industrious toddle escaped
the ravenous escalator as its chomping teeth
receded nearly underfoot, a hunger
refusing to crumble.
Should this child —
claiming all 10 toes by the grace of
toddler intuition — grant clemency to
the peckish conveyance for lowering itself
to our most base levels?
What of the parents? You would
be forgiven for refusing them absolution
for their negligence, clutching
a phone and counting likes
on both hands.
I lean to lenience. We have survived
parenthood to this point asking only
for mercy in our lowest moments,
repenting of sins of omission but never
forgetting the ride can sometimes
be treacherous.
Phillip Knight Scott | © 2019
Written for the Poets United Midweek Motif : “forgiveness”
Often Mumbled Musings 
Wow! AN escalator and a relationship serve as allegory to all I know. Beautifully done–and I hope not too autobiographical. I love the ten toes line!
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Thanks so much! No, this is a pure work of fiction.
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Life is indeed a series of ups and downs, especially so when being responsible for children and seeing them through the many stages to adulthood.
This is a very busy world, but I suppose parents of today, must remember the basics of life and child care, as well as those hands-free times with their technology…It remains a two-way challenge and forgiveness must be sent and received along the journey…
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Todays importance includes narcissistic likes as your poem intimates and this is the world children are born into. Forgiveness, may be a concept lost to the old world since everything seems to be as it is, not knowing it should be otherwise.
Luv the allegory of the neglect and the esclator. Lucky child for ten toes preserved
Much💞love
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Ironically … here I am getting likes on my poems.
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With our fascination with small screens, I imagine toddlers have many close encounters these days. Smiles. Well written, Phllip.
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Thanks, Sherry 🙂
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Oh wow, such truth in this–none can judge, we all survive by the grace of God.
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“clutching
a phone and counting likes
on both hands.”….Malady of modern times. Children born into this time have so many hurdles on the path of growing up. Forgiveness cannot live here. Sigh. A wonderful poem.
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Thanks! And yes – what a complicated time to raise a child.
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We have survived parenthood (ha- that made me laugh)
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Children of all ages past have always had to confront dangers such as knives, hammers, puddles, power sockets to name but a few, Once they get to 10yo they would have cut fingers and knees, eaten poison berries and broken the occasional bone (well I did), It is all part of our education.
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Oh yes – they have to learn these things at some point.
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Nice one
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this made me laugh! excellent work as always.
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Thanks so much 🙂 Too kind!
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Divine Providence plays a part.
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