Remembrances of a Mother I Didn’t Know…by Robert M. Katzman
By Robert M. Katzman © September 11, 2010 // Revised May 10, 2022
Originally written a decade ago to comfort a good friend on the loss of her mother who lived in another country. But the meaning is so universal, I decided that others may take comfort from it as well. If you happen to know someone who will appreciate these carefully chosen words, please tell them to come read my poem.
*******************************************
Mothers
Can be
Far away
and
Deep within you
at
The same time
They are
Like the Sun
***
You rotate
Around them
No matter
Where you are:
Across
A town
An ocean
A country
A continent
***
They pulsate
in
Your mind
Their voice:
Talks to you
Scolds you
Loves you
Curses you
Embraces you
***
Regardless:
Mothers
Can
Make you
Crazy!
***
They can be
Someone
You flee
Someone
You are
Moored to
***
They can be
The Standard
of
What NOT to be
or
Love and Justice
In
Human form
***
Distance
is
Not enough
to
Escape
the
Wrong Mother
***
Holding them
When
They are loving
Can seem to be
Not
Close enough
***
While they live
They can
Control
Your emotions
Like the tides
***
When they die
Sometimes–
After a while
You can
See them
Better
***
Like sunlight
Refracted
You can see
Their
Many parts
Their essence
Spread out before you
***
Sometimes…
Sometimes…
If you are lucky
You can see
the
Heart of them
What they
Gave up
To
Raise you
***
When they die
They are
No longer
So far away
They
Come
To live
Within you
Whispering to you
***
If
Your Mother
Was like the
Sun
Radiant and Eternal
I hope she
Still
Warms you
Gives you strength
and
Illuminates
Your horizons
***
Even if
You can
No longer
See her
I hope
Her glow
Within you
Lasts for
the
Rest of your life
***