POT’S WITH THE KETTLE
by Shay Martin
A story of what is being passed on, in the vein of Harry Chapin's "Cat's in the Cradle." Where that work concerns a father and son's similarity in generational aloofness, this is about the same between mother and daughter.
And the cat’s in the cradle, and the silver spoon,
Little boy blue, and the man in the moon
— Harry Chapin, “Cat’s in the Cradle”
A child arrived just the other day;
She came to the world in the usual way.
But there were parts to play, parties to find;
She learned to walk while mom self-pined.
The girl was talking ‘fore they knew it, and as she grew,
She’d say: “I’m gonna be like you, mom.
You know I’m gonna be like you.”
And the Pot’s with the Kettle and some unkind words,
Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, and birds.
“When you settlin’ down, mom?” “I don’t know when,
But we’ll get together then.
You know we’ll have a good time then.”
The girl turned ten with afterthought birthday.
She said: “Thanks for the wish, mom; come on, please stay.
Can you make me a lady?” Mom said: “Not today;
I’ve got fun to do.” The girl: “That’s okay.”
And mom left in a blur such that wasn’t heard:
“I’m gonna be like her, yeah.
You know I’m gonna be like her.”
Well, she came from college just the other day.
So much like herself, mom just had to say:
“Girl, I’m proud of you. Can you sit for a while?”
She shook her head then said with a smile:
“What I’d more like, mom, is to show off this two-piece.
It’s what I want, so affirm me, please.”
And the Pot’s with the Kettle and some unkind words,
Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, and birds.
“When you settlin’ down, girl?” “I don’t know when,
But we’ll get together then, mom.
You know we’ll have a good time then.”
Mom called her up just the other day;
She’s now model sans cloth for online pay.
Mom said: “I’d like to see you, if you don’t mind.”
“I’d love to, mom, if I could find the time.
You see, my content is calling, and I’ve some me-time due,
But it’s sure nice talking to you, mom.
It’s been sure nice talking to you.”
As mom hung up the phone, it occurred to she:
“She’s grown up just like me. My girl is just like me.”
Mr. Martin is a 2016 graduate of UT-Austin still living in the Austin area.
