Cheers to Mothers

Cheers to Mothers

Update: May 17, 2018

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Mmm…here it is, our new creation.

There was a lot of loving energy that came from all of you toward the topic of mother. Mother’s job is not an easy one, and it doesn’t come with an instruction, so it was nice to see so much understanding and compassion coming from your descriptions, memories, feelings, metaphors and similes.

Thank you again for participating in our poetry series. I hope you are enjoying it as much as I do. Looking forward to the next challenge.

 

Cheers to Mothers!

Warmly,

Aniela

 

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Your Presence

A collaborative poem

Edited by Aniela Gregorek

 

My mother was like a tile oven; I knew it was always there

radiating warmth, even in times when there was no food or coal.

Today, even twenty years gone, she is still within me, glowing.

 

Her fire burns inside me, transforming,

revealing the path of unbounded freedom.

 

I never heard my mother say, “I love you” but I felt her love

in her embrace, heard her love as she sang me to sleep,

saw her love in her eyes. Every moment from my birth till her death.

 

Loyalty, accountability gratitude, and trust.

It was my mother ­who daily walked the talk.

 

Twenty years gone, for me yet always present – I laugh

when I say what she would have and share the joke with her.

Rock solid and ever encouraging I see her reflected in the mirror

good and bad and know she’d be behind me – loyal and strong.

 

A force of nature – strong, sturdy, unpredictable ­–

she taught me by intention and by chance.

 

My mother my mast, the wind that pushes my sails,

keel that keeps me from capsizing. My being made her a mother.

Now I’m weaving her wisdom with my gratitude

as I grow into my own motherhood.

 

Soft and gentle, rose cheeks, loving ­–

her honesty and character guide me every day.

 

 

Though her memory is slipping away, I grieve the distance between

us that grows with time, I count the good days ­– our chance

to sing, and laugh together, even if it’s on the phone. I feel blessed

to follow my mother-set standards for integrity, sharing beauty, and vivid love.

 

A wall of strength ­– her acceptance and unwavering

support has shaped the mother I’ve become. A very aspect

of my being, my mother the font of generosity.

 

Regarding your awesomeness, mother, how many children can testify!

Collaborated by:

Aniela GregorekJohnJeffrey MatteisBarry JohnsonKristen WoodsSimonBrianDayanaMichelle RossAnnDiana D’AmelioLeslieScott Robinson

Happy Bodies,

Here is a chance to create another collective poem, drawing upon your personal meaning of “mother.”

Continue reading below for more details…

(click here to read the last group poem)

The Prompt

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“To describe my mother would be to write about a hurricane in its perfect power. Or the climbing, falling colors of a rainbow.”

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– Maya Angelou

Matka, mama, mater, muter, mom, mum, motha, mammy, madre, maw—these are only a few of the pronunciations of mother in different languages. With some exceptions, most start with the letter “m.” What surprised me is how almost universal the sound is, evoking softness, murmuring, almost a lullaby.

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Here is the title and the first few lines to get us started:

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“Your Presence”My mother was like a tile oven, I knew it was always there radiating energy, even in times when there was no food or coal. Today, even twenty years gone, her warmth is still present.

Please add your line(s) in the comments below.

Thank you for participating!

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  • My mother was like a tile oven, I knew it was always there
    radiating energy, even in times when there was no food or coal.
    Today, even twenty years gone, her warmth is still present.

  • My mother was the font of generosity for the family. She gave me this very important aspect of my being.

  • My mother still sets the standard for integrity, sharing beauty, and pure unselfish love. Though she is slipping into Alzheimer’s and lives much too far away, on a good day we still have the chance to sing and laugh together on the phone, and to feel blessed by sharing these precious moments with each other.

  • My mother was a wall of strength. Her acceptance and unwavering support, has shaped who I am today and how I respond as a mother myself.

  • My mother was a force of nature. Strong, tough and always unpredictable. She taught me a lot by intention and by accident. They broke the mold after she was born. She was one of a kind and I miss her.

  • Her fire burns inside me, transforming and revealing the path of unbounded freedom.

  • My mother is my pillar, her unconditional love the wind that pushes my sails, roots that keep me grounded.

    “You made me a mother”, she says to me. “I know how to be a mother because of you”, I respond.

    Weaving the purest love with grace and beauty, my mother’s wisdom and support is by my side, always giving, as I grow. I am grateful beyond words…

  • I never heard my mother say “I love you”
    But I felt her love in her embrace,
    Heard her love as she sang me to sleep
    Saw her love in her eyes.
    Every moment from my birth until her death

  • My parents shaped in me key values that I hold today: loyalty, accountability, gratitude, and trust to name a few. But it was my mother who daily “walked the talk”.

  • 20 years gone for me yet always present – I laugh when I say what she would have and share the joke with her. Rock solid and ever encouraging. I see her reflected in the mirror good or bad and know she’d behind me – loyal and strong!