Saying Goodbye from Motherhood by Brenda Earle Stokes

Early Monday morning, I hardly slept a wink
Thinking about the change that’s drawing near
Letting go of someone you held close every day
A member of our family whom we’d never push away
I know we can’t hold on forever, we have to move ahead
And so we’re saying goodbye to Mr. Potato Head

Christmastime is coming, we have to make some space
Your aunts have been out shopping now for weeks
I brought you out a box and to you to put in
Any toys you had outgrown to give away
And when I looked inside, imagine now my dread
That we’re saying goodbye to Mr. Potato Head

Time keeps moving on, there’s no way to make it stop
For months I couldn’t put you down, now I can hardly pick you up
Everyone gets older, everyone moves on
For all the years we’ve been together, I know that someday you’ll be gone

Today I put my chin up acceptance is the key
You’re not a baby anymore, you’re almost as tall as me
Poking eyes and feet and funny lips on your little plastic friend
Those long and happy playful days, I thought would never end
And now my little baby boy plays with Pokemon instead

And so we’re saying goodbye, I’ll try not to cry
As we’re saying goodbye to Mr. Potato Head.

• Jazz
• jazz
• jazz and improvised music
• original music
• pianist
• singer
• singer pianist
• singer-songwriter
• singersongwriter
• New York