My Dear Mama

MY DEAR MAMA

Several years ago I wrote a poem called Mama and Me,

I hadn't thought at the time that I'd be writing another,

That the time would ever come when I would see

The need to write some verses just about my mother.



Mama told me something recently I never knew before,

The information nearly knocked me to the floor;

When she took to her wheelchair she thought she'd walk again,

She was sure it was a temporary situation way back then.



The thing that makes me marvel is that my mother is so strong,

In my presence she has never whimpered, whined or cried;

She's pushed herself around in various chairs for ever so long,

Whatever her feelings have been, she's taken them in stride.



The only reason she confided what her feelings were about,

Was because I was crying and complaining about my own pain;

Mama said, "I can sympathize with you, have no doubt,"

But by lying in bed and crying, you have nothing to gain!"



Her words stung at first but as I looked into her eyes I could see

From their gentleness and warmth she wasn't trying to hurt me;

I thought, "At 86 years old, Mama has been through so much."

I sighed deeply and felt grateful for her encouraging touch.