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
You brought back memories of mine, too, Linda! I used to sing "Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral" to my daughters!
ReplyDeleteIt's a beautiful song, isn't it? So glad this touched you, Matt!
DeleteOh this is beautiful, Linda! Such a soothing poem, swaddled in love. Happy Mother's Day, my friend.
ReplyDeleteThanks Michelle, Hoping for a good Mother's Day for you too!
DeleteI liked hearing how you struggled with finding the right words and finally landed on these. The photo is precious, too!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tabatha.
DeleteThat last verse! Sweet memories, Linda.
ReplyDeleteThanks Tara. Indeed the memories are good.
Delete"Still rocking me"--a mother's love never dies. Beautiful, Linda.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jane-so true.
DeleteSinging 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.
ReplyDeleteThanks Diane. I found a site that shared so many of the lullabies. It was fun listening to the songs.
DeleteI love it, Linda! You've captured a mother's love and comfort so well. Perfect last line! Happy Mother's Day to you. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jama. Hope your mother's day is filled with flowers!
DeleteIt'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.
ReplyDeleteThank you Karin. Those melodies do mean a lot to us. Happy you enjoyed the poem.
DeleteWhat a love-ly poem. What memories you have captured. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Joy. So happy you liked it.
DeleteSo very sweet. You snagged our heartstrings with those borrowed lullaby lines!
ReplyDeleteI hope you were humming today, Keri. Thank you!
DeleteI love the use of lullabies in your poem, the sounds roll and rock. Nice!
ReplyDeleteOh, love that 'roll and rock', Margaret. Thank you.
Delete"Still rocking me in memories"
DeleteWhat 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!
DeleteBeautiful. Sweet and soft. And a bit sad too. Perfect.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Terje. I imagine you have a few other lullabies you could share too.
DeleteThanks 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.
ReplyDeleteYou'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.
DeleteToora Loora was one of my favorites to sing to my children. A lovely compilation, Linda.
ReplyDeleteThank you Dori. It is certainly one of the dearest lullabies, I think. Happy Mother's Day!
DeleteSimply beautiful, Linda! The perfect hybrid lullaby for all mothers. Happy Mother's Day, Linda! I hope your day is as special as YOU are. =)
ReplyDeleteSo 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!
DeletePerfect. Simply perfect.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteThanks 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.
ReplyDeleteHappy 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?
DeleteThe image of those moonbeams streaming is enough to make me smile today, dear Linda. What a beautiful tribute to the lullabies of your mother. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Myra. I imagine you know a few lullabies yourself from which you could write. It was fun to gather the words.
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