Every year I write a Mother’s Day poem. It is one of my few traditions. This year is different, because Mom went to be with Jesus August of last year.
So this was difficult to write. I didn’t know – should it be profoundly different, or the same? And to be honest, creativity has been at an all time low since before the start of my sabbatical.
In any event, while noting the reality of her passing, in the end I kept the approach basically the same as most years.
I hope you like it.
And if your Mom is gone, maybe it will bring a smile to your face – while we wait the grand reunion with all the saints at Christ’s return.
Mother had a merry heart
She loved to laugh, and sing
She never long would give those up
Regardless sorrow’s sting
A joke, a quip, a clever turn
Was quick to bring a smile
A Grandma’s face hid rapier wit
And wisdom’s secret wile
And while she’s now in Heaven’s gate
And can’t herself defend
I’ll share a prime example here
Of how her wit did tend
I’m sure I was but eight or nine
Still tender in my years
When she denied a youthful want
And I regaled with tears
Unbending she remained unmoved
Frustrated I devised
A plan for getting back at her
So clever in my eyes
A scheme of pointed blackmail rose
From pre-pubescent rage
To get my way, and punish her
So slick and sly and sage
“You’ll see!” I yelled, and stamped my foot
In proper Rebel’s form
And launched my plan full force at her
To make her weep and mourn
“I’m going to run away from home”
(I lobbed my first grenade)
“You’ll never see my face again”
(My trap now fully laid)
What more could break a Mother’s heart?
I knew my plan would work
She looked unmoved, and countered with
A cool, unruffled smirk!
I needed more artillery
I’d failed to break full through
The soundness of my plan was clear
What more could I now do?
I doubled down and stamped again
“I mean it!” I imposed
“I’m going now to get my stuff
And pack up all my clothes”
She didn’t try to stop me then
But I had set the hook
No doubt that she was flagging now
Despite her un-pained look
“Where will you go?” She queried me
“I don’t know – just away”
The thought of me so destitute
MUST force her to dismay
And then she sent her crushing blow
I didn’t have a clue
She had a gun as big as this
To use on you know who!
That she would launch this wicked thing
I didn’t have a hunch
She sweetly smiled and asked me should
She pack me up a lunch!
Imagine my distressing state
My world came crashing down
She had no fears I’d really flee
My plan was sunk and drowned
Was all this true? Did she not care
If I should pack and leave?
Would not my threatened flight
Induce her cries to sob and heave?
Alas, twas but the Mother’s grip
On life, that Mother had
Undaunted by my youthful scam
Nonplussed, nor made unglad
She knew that little boys and girls
Were born with sinful hearts
There was no shock when it came out
In streams or fits and starts
And no way in God’s universe
Would she be found a fool
Manipulated by a brat
Who’d just learned not to drool!
So sons learn from my twisted ways
Listen to my lesson
Before you jerk your Mom around
Know with whom you’re messin’
Don’t try the stupid blackmail stuff
You’ll get a knock-out punch
‘Cause if your Mom’s like my Mom was
She just might pack your lunch!
Happy Mother’s Day Mom, I know it is your best one ever right now.
For my Mom – Mother’s Day 2012
Reid
“Who’d just learned not to drool!” That truly made me LOL! Thanks for not giving up your tradition and for sharing your mother’s rapier wit! I am still thankful for my mother’s response to my teenage mockery of believers, “You probably oughta shut up.”
Good to hear from you man. Glad you liked it.