Thursday, May 08, 2008

Mother's Day



When I look at my hands, I see Sally Ann's

Wrinkled like the young bark of a tree

Strong, determined

My mother's wedding ring is the one I wear

An homage to 40 years my parents laughed in love

And lived in pain

I see her hands every day but I brush off

The thoughts they evoke

No time to grieve

No need

It's been 15 years

But here it is again - Mother's Day

I take a purposeful moment and look at my hands

and remember hers

I remember the meals of fried everything she cooked

Lard is an official food group in Texas

I remember the clothes she sewed for me

The gentle hugs she gave me

The way she touched my face when she gave me a line

Of advice she would recite over and over

"You keep your chin up, Robbie."

I remember her last breath

I was holding her hand

Wrinkled like a young tree's bark

Still strong

Still determined

Even though her body was weak

I remember

It's that time of year

Tears of grief are good

I look at my guys - my husband and son

She never met them

But she knows them

Sometimes when I hold Noah's hand, I look down

And I see her hand holding her grandson's

She would've loved my guys

She does love them

Whenever I hear someone complain about their mother

I put on a sympathetic face

Relationships ARE difficult

But inside I cringe

Just for a moment

Don't they know the gift they have?

To be able to hold their mother's hand?

So I will grieve just a little while

And then I will celebrate Mother's Day

I will squeeze my son's hand extra hard

And hope that someday he remembers me

And my hands

13 comments:

Jan Parrish said...

Robbie - how beautiful. I've gotta go locate a hankie now. (((h)))

Julie said...

Sheesh! You make my eyes leak.

Momstheword said...

Thank you for sharing that wonderful poem.

I have been thinking about my Mom a lot this week. She has been gone for 10 years 3 months. She would be 105 if she were still alive. I miss her every day. I always thought my hands would probably look like hers, I just never expected to look down at my hands and see my Dad's hands!

Ruthie said...

That is absolutely beautiful! Brings tears to my eyes. I still miss my mom - and I think my hands look like hers, too.
hugs.

Loretta Oakes said...

Thank you for sharing. I have my mom's hands too...and although she feels bad, it doesn't bug me!

tonya said...

Your poem reminds me of my great-grandmother. Thank you.

life is just a one night stand said...

Robbie, I never met your mom but I've learned a lot about her over the years, there's a lot more of your mom in you and your brothers and sisters than just the hands and I'm sure you'll pass that on.

Kay Day said...

That's beautiful, Robbie. Very beautiful.
I guess, since my hands look like my mom's that they actually look like my grandpa's.

Michele Cushatt said...

Oh, Robbie ... such a beautiful gift you just gave your mother (and the rest of us!).

Robbie Iobst said...

Thank you everyone for your kind comments! I have to add something. My Aunt Maxine emailed me about this and made me howl! She wrote, "Robbie, if Sally read this she would say, 'Now Robbie, don't go overboard, girl!'"

Thanks Maxine! :0)

Cheryl Barker said...

Robbie, I hopped over to your blog after seeing your comment on Rachelle's blog. I like your blog's theme of "Joy" :) Your book idea mentioned in your previous post on oral surgery sounds very interesting. Sounds like you've got a simply divine dance teacher :) Good luck at the conference!

Megan DiMaria said...

You brought tears to my eyes. How sweet.

A prisoner of hope,
Megan

dianne in colorado said...

This is beautiful Robbie. Your mom is looking down on you with such pride (and she is proud of your guys, too).