Poetry Friday is hosted by Jama Rattigan, of Jama's Alphabet Soup. Missed you Jama, and thank you for hosting with love today. My poem today is for all mothers, but especially my mother, gone for a while, but still in my heart every day. I've messed about with words all week trying to choose the 'how' and 'what' of a poem for her. It became too specific, it was too flowery, it was too vague. Hm-m. Well, then I thought of all the songs she sang to me, all the songs I sang to my children, all those they sing to their children. Most of the lines are lifted from lullabies I know. It's a thank you for love, for music, for comfort.
Happy Mother's Day to you and yours!
Mama Tunes
Sweet and low,
rock-a-bye,
hush now,
don’t you cry.
Toora loora
lullaby, goodnight.
Don’t say a word,
I’ll tuck you tight.
Hush little baby,
drowsy hours are creeping.
Come lie adrift
in moonbeams streaming.
Mother sang
these songs to me.
Still rocking me
in memories.
Linda Baie © All Rights Reserved
38 comments:
You brought back memories of mine, too, Linda! I used to sing "Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral" to my daughters!
It's a beautiful song, isn't it? So glad this touched you, Matt!
Oh this is beautiful, Linda! Such a soothing poem, swaddled in love. Happy Mother's Day, my friend.
I liked hearing how you struggled with finding the right words and finally landed on these. The photo is precious, too!
That last verse! Sweet memories, Linda.
Thanks Michelle, Hoping for a good Mother's Day for you too!
Thanks, Tabatha.
Thanks Tara. Indeed the memories are good.
"Still rocking me"--a mother's love never dies. Beautiful, Linda.
Singing was something I always did with my kids. They weren't always sleepy-time songs, though! I have a lovely CD of lullabies from around the world that I will have to unearth today now that you've put me in that frame of mind. Happy Mother's Day.
Thanks Jane-so true.
Thanks Diane. I found a site that shared so many of the lullabies. It was fun listening to the songs.
I love it, Linda! You've captured a mother's love and comfort so well. Perfect last line! Happy Mother's Day to you. :)
Thank you, Jama. Hope your mother's day is filled with flowers!
It's gorgeous. It brought tears to my eyes. That lullaby phase embodies so much of motherhood. The familiar phrases mixed up and melodically drifting in and out of your poem capture the sleepy sense of lullaby-filled times.
What a love-ly poem. What memories you have captured. Thank you.
So very sweet. You snagged our heartstrings with those borrowed lullaby lines!
I love the use of lullabies in your poem, the sounds roll and rock. Nice!
Thank you Karin. Those melodies do mean a lot to us. Happy you enjoyed the poem.
You're welcome, Joy. So happy you liked it.
I hope you were humming today, Keri. Thank you!
Oh, love that 'roll and rock', Margaret. Thank you.
"Still rocking me in memories"
What a fabulous ending to a poem that sings all the way through. This poem belongs in a book!
Violet N.
Thanks Violet-I love that you enjoyed it. Happy Mother's Day!
Beautiful. Sweet and soft. And a bit sad too. Perfect.
Thank you, Terje. I imagine you have a few other lullabies you could share too.
Thanks for this poem - Like you, I'm rocked daily by precious memories of my mom. Many years ago my daughter told me that I shouldn't be sad on Mother's Day, but it's always a bittersweet day for me.
You're welcome, Ramona. Yes, I always miss my mother a bunch on mother's day. And I miss talking with her! I'm glad you are touched by the poem.
Toora Loora was one of my favorites to sing to my children. A lovely compilation, Linda.
Simply beautiful, Linda! The perfect hybrid lullaby for all mothers. Happy Mother's Day, Linda! I hope your day is as special as YOU are. =)
Thank you Dori. It is certainly one of the dearest lullabies, I think. Happy Mother's Day!
So happy you enjoyed it, Bridget. Such fun to travel down the lullaby lane. When I searched for them, got to listen to each one. Thank you for your sweet words, & the same to you, Bridget!
Perfect. Simply perfect.
Thank you!
Thanks so much for this, Linda. It brought back memories for me, too. My mom's been gone a long time, but I still remember snatches of the songs she sang to me and my siblings--in Italian.
Happy Mother's Day to you!
What a lovely memory, Carmela, and in Italian. Happy Mother's Day to you, too. I guess we all remember some of them, don't we?
The image of those moonbeams streaming is enough to make me smile today, dear Linda. What a beautiful tribute to the lullabies of your mother. :)
Thanks Myra. I imagine you know a few lullabies yourself from which you could write. It was fun to gather the words.
Post a Comment