Poetry Friday - For Moms and Memories

 

created by Linda Mitchell

It's Poetry Friday, and Linda Mitchell is hosting HERE on her blog, where it's time for "clunkers"! Be sure to visit to see what that means!   

   

           Almost Mother's Day, I'm honoring those in my life: my mother, my grandmothers (I had three!), aunts and great-aunts, sister-in-law, daughter, daughter-in-law, many, many friends who gave me support as a mother, and as a woman. In the recent weeks, two of my longtime woman friends have passed. I am so sad to say goodbye, but grateful that we were special friends in different parts of our lives, as mothers, as colleagues, as women. I know that this Mother's Day will be sad for their children and loving family, yet memories help us remember what wonderful mothers they were. Here's one evening in my mind from long ago. 

Ray Hennessy rayhennessy, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Evening Sounds Push Back Time 

                (Mother to Mother to Mother)

 

Dusk murmurs heard next door,

down the street,

across the park:

My neighbor crosses over the driveway

asking ‘how is Sarah getting along?’

(My daughter, due in two months.)

I tell ‘she’s fine, getting a little uncomfortable,

but feels good still.’

 

Then, I hear my grandmother, Sarah,

call, “Yoo hoo, Mrs. Judy, how are your tomatoes doing?

Mine are not looking so well this year.  Those bugs!”

 

Later, across the park, it’s “Come home, Charlie, come home.

It’s getting dark out,

time for bath,

time for bed,

time for stories.”

Then— 

 

“Linda, Linda, are you up in that tree?  It’s really

too dark for you to be climbing still.  Come on in now.  Is that

Alice with you?  Alice May, you get on home now.  Your momma’ll

be worried to death.”

 

My husband clinks away the rake, the shovels.

The broom whispers across the porch, my hands

or my mother’s– final work today?

 

Mom, come in, come in to visit a while.

I hear you sweeping on the porch

at last light,

as I turn the pages of my book.

                                                     Linda Baie ©

Poetry Friday - Honoring Women

         Catherine Flynn at Reading to The Core hosts this day,  Friday, March 8th, which is International Women’s Day, hashtag and theme #BalanceforBetter. Here is the website. Catherine has asked that people help to celebrate the day by sharing poems that honor women and she is sharing her poem that honors Ellen Harding Baker, a teacher, who lived in the 19th century and, as a teacher, created an extraordinary quilt that depicts the solar system. Be sure to visit to see and read Catherine's poem about Baker.

         Oh my, so many choices! I've browsed my books and have more than one I could share. I've been writing poems each day with a group to celebrate Laura Shovan's birthday. The theme this month is "food" with members posting a picture of their choosing on the date each chose. Many of my words lean to personal memories. After all, food is one of those personal things that cling, isn't it? From early childhood to grown, considering my and all the other poets' poems, most are food connections, memories, experiences. 
         This past Wednesday, one of our group posted this: "These are the ingredients for a quick vegetarian dish that my family loves. Cook 8 oz of pasta, add salsa, tomatoes, drained black beans, and top with shredded cheddar cheese. Make a double batch if you like leftovers for lunch. Alternate prompts: pasta, beans, cheddar cheese, or tomatoes."

          I value my friends, some even online from afar, some here in my neighborhood, but being together, eating what we create together, is special like a hug that lasts and lasts.