Ode to my Mother

I wrote this poem about my mother who died so disappointed in life.

My mother is gone nearly two years now. 

 She passed away slowly, with hardly a sound. 

I thought she'd live forever; she thought so, too.  

But death won't be cheated.  He'll take what he's due.
When I was a young girl I worshiped my Mom.  

The sun rose and set by her; 

she did no wrong.  

No face was fairer, 

no voice more a comfort.  

Her presence assured me, 

her touch soothed my hurt.
Life was not easy raising 6 kids alone.  

I'm sure she felt cheated, 

her beauty wasted at home.  

Dreams long ago promised a far different life 

than the one she was living, 

youth fading with time.
Dreams turned to longings 

escaping as tears.  

Perhaps a new love 

would banish her fears.  

Believing each promise 

of love to be true, 

she darted after each vaporous rue.
After each mirage revealed itself, 

her bitterness grew; 

standards were shelved. 

 She lost the vision of who she was.  

She settled far short of living in love.
The mother I knew died long, long ago.  

She passed away slowly, 

so no one would know.  

She left us when love could not be found; 

though I looked up in love, 

she did not look down.

Reviews

[kmacdonald78]

I love this poem. I usually write Christian poetry but my mother left an imprint deep in my heart and I wanted to share a little of her story one day about 12 years ago. It made me cry when I wrote it and still makes me cry to this day.