Poems From The Kitchen Table

I was there today

watching you chase the waves,

your laughter rolling louder than the tide.

The sun kissed your hair,

and for a moment, I forgot

about deadlines and debit balances,

about the books waiting for me

on the kitchen table.

I was there,

but I’ve missed many.

Moments that slipped between

flashcards and formulas,

chapters I studied

instead of reading with you.

Still, every number I solve

has your name tucked inside it,

every late night is a bridge

to a brighter world for you.

You are my why,

my heartbeat in the background,

the reason I chase the pressure

instead of running from it.

And when you look back one day,

I hope you see

your mother was learning,

so she could teach you

how to rise,

how to dream,

how to stay.

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© 2025 K. Valentina DuPont Henriquez

All rights reserved. Poem written and photographed by the author.