Ode to Mom

Dear Mom, 

This year for mother's day I hope you'll accept this post as your gift. It was all I could afford under this month’s budget. :) I tried to write a poem that summarized how much I love you, and all that you mean to me, but it just wouldn't work. I guess my feelings are too big for words or images to capture them adequately. Here are my feeble attempts anyway. Love you.

Boberry.

The Anatomy of My Mother

Her lap once held me as a child.

Only when I was sick or tired.

would I sit still long enough,

for her to hold me close.

Now I’ve grown up way too much,

to fit like I once did. 

Her hands are often wet

from kitchen work or the like.

Their evidence of working hard-

with red ink smudges and paper cuts.

Scared from accidents with knives.

Brown with dirt from the yard..

They’re tough, and smooth

all at once.

Perfect for science projects,

braiding hair,

and mending clothes.

Better for hugs.

Her eyes say everything.

They tell of her mood,

or how much sleep she’s had.

They show her excitement,

and hunger for life.

They show her concern, her worry,

her love.

They also read a lot.

They’ve read every mystery book

that involves cats and apple pies.

They’ve read church things too,

the scriptures for sure.

They’ve read me too- my thoughts

my fears. My sadness, my worry.

Everyone else’s as well.

Her feet used to have arches,

I think...

but she used them too much.

So now they’re flat as a pancake.

But they’ve taken her all over the world-

To Mexico, Peru, Idaho, and California.

They brought back great recipes and

perspectives- which she shares with me.

They take her on endless errands,

mostly for other people.

They stand a lot too.

In front of her classes, at the stove,

in her greenhouse.

Even when it’s hard, they still stand.

Her brain is a great machine.

It runs the whole body.

It also runs our house.

Each day I live I’m more and more

amazed at all the storage capacity it has.

There are years and years of wisdom

gathered from generations of strong

women stored there.

If I ask, she shares with me.