looking at these hands I remember
fingersfolding taping
thick stong working hands taping
mortar and bricks printed tissue
creating a portal to deliver santa to her children
and before this paper shrine
shiny boxes sit snug
gossimered golden bows
red ribbon round
hollow empty boxes under a tree
with a child's reason she thought
what was the point without this promise?
an innocent heart and stormy mind sing duet
shaking boxes can you hear something
did you feel it
perhaps a ring even a pebble
or a stone
like soup like something from nothing
magic filled boxes appear beside empty ones
a lottery of boxes
most thoughtfullycarefully
spending justenough
for these children
for me
for us
for her
and for God too &Jesus and Mary her Holiest Night
she did and could and was for evermore
my mother my beautiful mother wrapping boxes empty boxes
making it so much prettier than it would have been
than it is without her and her little boxes
dearest Annie
dearest Mother
Grandma, Mom & me as nubbin
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Comments
I hope your troubles are few.
love,
your daughter
Rated.
Heartbreakingly sweet.
And you reaching out your little "monkey" hand to hold onto your Mom in the photo.
Lovely tribute. She sounds like a great woman.
:-)
R~
Words strung together so well.
Hugs to you.
magic filled boxes would appear beside empty ones
Like the promise of putting a stone in a pot and hoping for soup... This is beautiful.
thank you. she was something, my mum. she was quite creative. tonight I miss her terribly.
spotted,
that "monkey" hand thing made me cry more! O you and your spottedness! (thank you **)
scanner,
I tried not to but I couldn't resist. you're sweet.
mission,
me too. I can't stop crying. She is very close to me tonight, my mum. thank you.
CK, that's what I was thinking of, "stone soup". why? I couldn't say only that it played like a song in my mind.
CatWoman, you make me feel as if my words touched you and I know you love good writing so this is very high praise to me. thank you.
Owl, I think it's happening. I think I'm learning to write and I love it. THANK YOU for being such a grand support to me. Thank you so so much.
you got the boxes in boxes...I loved that although at the time it was so antifeminist, his crazy misogeny. Poor Mailer, he caught such flak, but for me that lyrical boxes within boxes within boxes...I loved it. I loved the mysticism of it. and here I am now, the box from within, missing her, missing what she wrapped me in. as mad as she was, she was so beautiful too.
LL2,
I'm glad you enjoyed it. I do miss my mom as I know you miss yours. this is that time to remember and honor them. we are theirs and they were ours. thank you.
It is whip snap day on my blog....so...one rate. No whip snaps! xox
What a gorgeous tribute; I felt a sense of honor to peak into your relationship during this season of your life. You are a gift, a treasure.
Namaste
I thank you and Merry Christmas to you! **
Susanne,
This is that wondrous time of year when they come back to visit, almost as if they are here. I remembered the boxes today, wondering why or how she thought of it and then thinking I needed to tell this story about her, to bring her back if only for a little while.
Robin,
Yes, she was very very beautiful; a blessing and a curse, maybe like all gifts. I'm so glad you read it and enjoyed. Merry Christmas Robin. All good things to you!
Rita,
Thank you for your kind words. Merry Christmas to you!
I'm so glad you liked it. I'm honored. Thank you so much. I hope you're enjoying yourself and eating lots of cookies and loving one another. merry merry **
this means so much coming from you. you are very very dear. thank you.
thank you. me too, happy and sad. Merry Christmas.
Barking,
She was unforgettable and so much a part of me, I can feel her just beneath the surface of me...right there. Your kind words make my heart happy too. Merry Christmas.
she struggled with a lot of things but at the core of this was her burning presence. she was always up to something... thank you for joining me here tonight. Merry Merry!!!
life_4,
it's good to remember them, these mothers who get under our skins. Happy Holidays to you and thanks for stopping by!
Steve,
that makes me feel good because writing it, I melted. it sang from my heart and your heart heard it. thank you thank you. Merry Christmas!
yes, that photo is eternal. it's the only one I have of the three of us. my mother looked so happy that day. (my grandma did too...that's how she always looked. when she was mad, well, she looked even fiercer) I was wearing a bonnet. I love the bonnet. bare chested with a little bonnet so as not to bake my little brain. funny. touching. I wish I could remember that day. it must have been a good day. I'll bet they went crabbing. when my grandma was there, so were the crab nets.
merry christmas to you cindy ross. you may not know poetry, but you can write like something else.