~THE BECKY COLLECTION CONTINUED~

"This poem is dedicated to several people and one institution. First my late mother, Daisy Bell Joye. I take my pen name from her middle and maiden names.Secondly, I dedicate this poem to all my sisters and brothers who went through this with me. And thirdly, I dedicate this poem to the Epworth Children's Home in Columbia, South Carolina, who was there for us when we had need of them. May God bless you all." Becky

Daisy Bell Joye (Mama) (C)October 1998

I can't believe it has been twenty years today My sister called me "Mama's passed away" She finally let go in her sleep last night My god, I remember my throat shut up tight I could hardly breathe and I couldn't speak Out of my chest my heart tried to leap I closed my eyes and slid down the wall The dry sobs shook as I curled into a ball Oh Mama! Please Mama! I cried out her name Don't leave me Please! though no answer came I knew it would happen but knew not just when They had told us maybe six months but again It could be quicker, there is nothing we can do The tumor's too deep and there is nothing new No operation can reach that far at this time There just has to be because Mama is mine This woman who had tried for most of her life Though held by customs and days filled with strife To be the best person she could possibly be The man that she wed though she could not see Would bring so much pain and even more tears For with him came a friend of so many years This friend the bottle, which meant more than life Meant so much more than his Children or wife When his friend came to visit, almost every night He would stumble in just raring for a good fight With a babe at her breast and two by her side Nowhere to turn and no place she could hide She took the abuse but held her head high There was none to protect her none who would try He fathered ten children with her through the years Her heart broken by abuse and years full of fears His heart attacked him and put an end to his life There was nothing left for his children or his wife The five younger babes with her still at home How would she raise them she could not all alone She turned to the church a place she well knew They could help her, for now, could place only two Into an orphanage two little girls she did place While a thousand tears rolled down her sweet face The little girls were the ages of just six and eight The others were less so they would have to wait There were rules that the age of six must be met In her heart she could not give in, oh no, not just yet So now she had three babes to clothe and to feed On her knees each night she poured out her need Still on her knees all neighbors floors she would scrub She stood at the wash board all clothes she did rub Till her fingers would bleed and her back was so sore To earn a few pennies and went begging for more She struggled this way for several years more Then the time came, the twins went through the door To join the little girls there now ten and eight The last, a girl child had three years to wait To feed them she kept on with what she had done Put food on the table, provide clothes for just one For I was that child, I still remember many things For Christmas, decorations, were ribbons and strings A bag of candy, a Sears Catalog, there under the tree Mama cut out pictures of the lady models for me These were my paper dolls I sure had a whole lot And the candy white with stripes just hit the spot We lived hand to mouth for a few years more The time finally came, I went through the door As I entered I was scared but was not alone There, dozens of children also had no home Mama left her house to the big city she went A job keeping house, there, she had no rent Each Sunday she came to join us in Church Not once did she fail or leave us to search For years this pattern was set as in stone One day she did not come, where had she gone For weeks I did not see her, so frantic did I get Seems that at all times my face would be wet Though, told she was ill, blood pressure too high If I didn't see her soon, I knew would die Blood flow from the nose she could not restrain The Doctors had tried but could not maintain For Mama my main stay, the anchor that I held Then one Sunday I was told, finally she is well I raced to the office and there fell to my knees My face in her lap, Mama! don't leave me please! I cried, how I cried, I couldn't hold it in It felt so good her arms around me again Years passed we grew, all went our own way The Orphanage was good for us and to this day We are thankful that we had all been taken in We'd rather have had Mama raise us but again All grew strong, healthy, our futures to meet We had been raised to stand on our own feet She never remarried her own life she sought She had tried her best to be what she ought Though never much money, we'd help her some She was so happy to be in her own home Nine siblings scattered now throughout the lands Her in the center, bound us, with invisible hands Mama would send word, we all need to meet And we'd all be there to hug and to greet Each other, then Mama would just sit and smile All her babes around her, to the very last child She was a woman after whom I'd patterned my life Though I've had no great perils or strife If I can be half the woman she has been No trouble with heaven to let me come in Near Mother and brother we laid her to rest I promised her there, I would try my best To raise my family as she would have tried If she'd had the chance, I turned and sighed Mama, Please, don't leave, close to me stay I'll need you to help me along my life's way On special days I want to pick up the phone Tell her I love her, but she has gone home And to this day still our pride and our joy For she is dear Mama, our Daisy Bell Joye.







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