Hi Mum
I cleaned out the old cupboard today
The one where stuff from over the years
Has been had been dumped and forgotten.
In an old Sunbeam iron box I found your sympathy cards
Stored away but not forgotten by dad
I was surprised by how many and from whom.
He didn’t want to part with them,
So they’ve stayed safe and secure
These past thirty years.
Words that stated love and affection
That told me you were highly thought of
And the shock of your untimely death.
I looked at each card trying to remember
The names, the people who lived in your life
So many sadly are no longer here.
I decided after all this time and with so many
No longer alive it was time to return them to the earth
As a final act of closure.
But it generated so many memories
So many regrets, I never felt I took time to know you
You were in so many ways an enigma to us all.
But I do remember your letters, the one phone call,
The one I made to see how you were
A week before you left me.
You helped mould me as the person I am
Imbued me with generosity and charity,
A love of people and family.
It’s sad to think of what you missed
Your children getting older, the grandchildren who arrived,
Dad growing into the beautiful old man he became.
All the amazing grandkids who have been deprived
Of knowing you, and you them
I know they would have loved their Nanna.
Like me, you would have been so proud of them,
All twelve of them are remarkable people,
So amazing in their own special ways.
And after all these years, your photo still adorns this house
Those photos of the young you, forever smiling back at me
Will stay where they are, as long as I am here.
I can say now I wish I had been a better son
It’s easy in hindsight, to see where I could have been better
That I might have given you more time.
But I have only lovely memories of you
Of feeding clothing and sheltering me
Life’s information you so readily shared.
World events, the famous dying, the tennis on the radio
The evenings where you imposed the rosary on us
On our knees night after night, never a reprieve.
And now all these years later,
I know you cared for me,
Knew me much better than I did you,
I love you Mum.
I first wrote a version of this poem in 2014.
Today’s prompt gave me reason to edit and revise my original effort.
Written for: https://justfoolingaroundwithbee.wordpress.com/2015/02/16/love-is-in-da-blog-mothers/
Morpethroad 
Such a beautiful tribute to your mother, Michael. She sounds like a very special person.
Thank you Mandy, sadly she died 32 years ago this year.
I vaguely remember this poem you wrote last year. Something similar, but revising poetry, especially with the emotions you feel for your mum..well something new can always be written, something new can always be felt. We can see how much you loved your darling mum.
Thank you Jenny, some minor revisions.
This was a moving piece Michael. The sentiments are raw and touching.
Thank you praj, I appreciate you stopping by.
That was just beautiful Michael. I lost my mum 30 years ago this year. I still have a poem one of the ladies at church wrote for her 70th birthday. It’s written on a 30cm length of toilet paper 🙂 I laugh every time I read it.
Ha that would be a great memento to keep Lyn….I still have a lot of stuff here in the house that was mum’s so she is still around the place.
I remember this beautiful post last year and I noticed it in my reader a few days ago and avoided it for a bit…I can’t seem to write one this week but reading your words and how you loved her is really nice to read, Michael.
Thank you Oliana it’s gone through a little revision but it seemed a good approach to this prompt.
I wrote a haibun in my other blog about my memories of motherhood….perhaps I could as that one in.
What a lovely post. And – you mom is beautiful!
May she continue to rest in peace.
{Hugs}
Thank you. Luckily she is forever young.