Mama

I remember Mama
blowing chewing gum bubbles
while she ironed.
I was too young for school
Sesame Street wasn’t invented yet
the rain was pouring outside
and I was awed.

I remember Mama
sewing at her machine into the night
when she had to get up for work,
patching a favoite pair of cutoffs
‘just one more time’,
putting pockets on pants
because my little brother adored them,
and I still hear her words
‘There’s all kinds of ways to say
I love you.’

I remember Mama
talking about beauty on the inside
being more important than on the outside.
‘A kind word to a stranger
might be the only kind word
that person heard all day’
and how good it felt
finding out she was right.

I remember Mama
telling us to hold onto our dreams.
Make them happen and never say ‘I can’t’
and how funny I thought it
when she said the world was our watermelon
and all we had to do was
grab it and take a bite.

I remember Mama
who taught us best by example
with her unconditional love.
Love isn’t love until it’s given away
and it’s in the giving that we know love.
It truly does come back ten-fold.
Thank you, Mama.

Author - CJ Heck - poeticlady99@yahoo.com
Copyright © 1999