Mom, September 17, 1926 – September 17, 2022

As you already know, or have guessed, I love to write.  I’ve done a lot of it in my life, including poetry, at least two poems which I did for my mother.

Today is Mom’s birthday, and I’ve been missing her lately, so I’d like to share those two poems with you.

——————————————

Many years ago, I was a young Marine and maybe a tad homesick.  I sat thinking about home and, naturally my thoughts turned to Mom. 

Mom and I had so much in common.  We shared a love of literature and the arts.  When I was home during winter weather I’d sometimes start a fire in the fireplace and she and I would sit and talk for hours, discussing thoughts as deep as the ocean and sometimes a shallow as a wet spot on the floor.  But always there was laughter.

As the young Marine me sat thinking about Mom, I took pen in hand and wrote down my thoughts.  I sent the resulting poem to her.  Now I share it with you.

——————————————

The Closest Thing to God

By Scott Matthews

A blonde haired boy was born to her on a cold December day, and raising her eyes up to heaven, “Thank you God,” she did pray.

And God said, “Raise up a child in the way he should be, and when he grows old, he will not depart from it.”

So the woman took her little child, and showed him her patience and temper, mild.

She taught him of peace on a warm summer’s eve, and the joy of a puppy tugging his sleeve.

She showed him the beauty of fall coming on, and told the small child of God’s only son.

She taught her young son on a cold wintry day, of the warmth of a fire when outside was gray.

When spring came around and the ground moist with rain, she revealed to him happiness of life born again.

So the child learned these lessons and took them at face, but soon he grew tired of such a slow pace,

And tried to learn all things as fast as he could, and tried to do many more things than he should.

But one day the child knew he was wrong, not his mother.

“I’d better go home and show her I love her.”

She welcomed him home with arms open wide, and she held him up close to her heart, at her side.

He said, “Mom, I’m sorry for the things I have done.”

She replied, “Do not worry about such things, my son.”

And the son learned this lesson so far above others, the closest thing to God on earth is the love of his mother.

——————————————

I know the poem is amateurish and trite, but it was certainly heartfelt.

In one of my attempts to go back to college I took a Children’s Literature class.  In the class one of the projects was to produce a book containing poems we had gathered.  When I ran short I wrote a few, some from the point of view of one or more of my sons.

This is one of those.

——————————————

“Granny?” We Ask

By:

David Scott Matthews I

“Granny?” they ask.  “What do we owe you…
            for all the hurts kissed, and all the necks hugged?”

            for calling us Scotty, Beezer, Robert P., Straw Boss, Andy, and Patrick and never getting it wrong… well, hardly ever?”

            for all the stories and giggles and ice cream cones we’ve shared?”

            for all the things you let us do that you know Mom and Dad wouldn’t?”

            for all the things you don’t make us do that you know Mom and Dad would?”

            for knowing that, sometimes, just this once, it really won’t hurt?”

            for all the love you’ve given us?”

“Granny?” they ask.  “What do we owe you for all that?”

And you say…

“Nothing.”

“Wanda?” Ann asks.  “What do I owe you…

            for taking our kids off our hands when we really need you to?”

            for giving them back when we really need you to?”

            for sharing your son with me?”

            for raising him to treat me with respect, and friendship, and love?”

            for taking this shy, quiet, little country girl, and making her part of the family  (How did you say it?  ‘just another girl.’)?”

            for being my friend?”

            for all the love you’ve given me?”

“Wanda?” Ann asks.  “What do I owe you for all that?”

And you say…

“Nothing.”

“Mom?” I ask.  “What do I owe you…”

            for all the chocolate and biscuits, and popcorn, and shared Pepsis?”

            for all the no-bake cookies, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with home-made plum jelly?”

            for all the berries we picked, and the walks in the woods, and for all the Tarzan yells (A-ah-E-e-e-A-a-a-ah!)?”

            for telling me about ‘dat ole debil’ comin’ ober dem GEE-willikin mountains!’?”

            for all the pats on the back and all the swats on the rear?”

            for teaching me that family isn’t everything; it’s the only thing?”

            for giving me life, teaching me to live it, and teaching me to love it?”

            for teaching me, by showing me, that sometimes you do the right thing, not because you want to; not because it’s the easy thing; but because it’s the right thing?”

            for all the love you’ve given me?”

“Mom?” I ask.  “What do I owe you for all that?”

And you say…

“Nothing.”

“Well,” we say.  “To pay you back, we give you something that costs…

nothing.”

We give you our undying love.

——————————————

Mom passed away three years ago, just a few short weeks before her 93^rd birthday.

Her Dad, my Grandpa, “Pop” Corn used to say that Mom was small, but she covered all the ground she stood on.  In my experience her 93 years with us had an impact that was earth shattering.

I can’t begin to tell you all the things Mom taught me…things that I’ve tried to live by and to pass on to my kids…so I won’t try.  I will say that she taught me about hard work and about love.  She said the people you love will let you down and make you mad but, if you love them, let it go.  Fix what you can and forgive the rest.

Today would have been Mom’s 96^th birthday, and I miss her as much today as I did the day she died.

——————————————

To her I’d like to say, “Mom, thanks for all the things you taught me and all the things you gave me – life and, most of all, your love.  I miss you, Mom.

“Happy Birthday.”

——————————————

PLEASE SUBSCRIBE AT THE UPPER RIGHT.

IT’S FREE!

You will ONLY receive notifications when I post new entries to my blog.

Go to the top of the right hand column where it says, “SUBSCRIBE TO BLOG VIA EMAIL”.  Fill in your email and hit the “Subscribe” button.  You will receive a verification email.  Please confirm that you want to subscribe by clicking, “Confirm Follow” and you will be set!  Thanks!

It doesn’t seem to work from a cell phone, only a computer.  I don’t know why.  Sorry.  If there’s a problem, send me your email address and I’ll sign you up.

——————————————