Gentle she was, a young woman of means,
beautiful in her Marcel Wave she was.
A hair dresser with her own shop a teaser of hair and tresses.
Then the quiet Irish man took her eye and her heart.
Not impressed were her parents with the young Irish trade unionist from the motor trade.
Time eventually brought them round to accept the vows the young couple had made.
Grief she bore when her fist born died at six months
brave she was to have more. Three girls then two boys , and two more angels lost in-between.
Then after all was finished me, making six.
Hard she worked to bring us up and support her quiet man who was there for her too.
Kind she was, good and open hearted she was.
The door always open to family and waifs and strays
big hearted she was to all who past through our door.
Always there she was, with words of wisdom and comfort.
Her beautiful heart shone through her eyes.
Patient she was but there was temper there if needed,
she was not strong or mean but if needed her children and her man she would defend to the death!
Beautiful she was in features and in heart
there was not task she would not finish if she had made a start.
Cried for her daughters she did as her man gave them away
and when her sons went too she had a proud day.
Together alone again by themselves again.
Happy she was full of the business of her quiet man.
Yet she was always ready to talk and help and ease our pain.
Cleaver she was but not school or college wise she was wise in life and love and truth and need.
Lonely she was when her man was taken ,
wept she did as she wanted to join him.
Lost she was without the quiet man .
Heart broken she became though she threw herself in to caring for grandchildren.
Gone she was before her body, her mind and soul went to him.
Lost to us she was, a smile here and there maybe a flash of recognition.
Unknowing of all around her she was,sad eyed frighted lamb lonely lonely.
Tiny she was when she went sadly lost to us long before .
Gone into her mind to find her quiet man.
Tears we shed for her,we wept in grief and I in anger because so long had she been gone and I had wanted to talk to her,
but gone she really was.
Anemones her favourite flowers were they always remind me of her.
I forgave her for leaving me and now accept she had to go
as by the side of her quiet man was where she had to be.
Never to be forgotten.
Jun 19, 2013 @ 23:09:57
What a truly beautiful soul – blessed are you, born of her and her man.
Jun 19, 2013 @ 23:16:13
Thank you Eric the more I think of my parents the more I agree I was blessed. Xx
Jun 20, 2013 @ 11:36:56
tender morsel of literary art (~_~)
Jun 20, 2013 @ 18:06:04
Thank you that was what Mum was , a tender morsel.
Oct 21, 2013 @ 10:01:11
Another beautiful reading Willow – I loved these lines – she was not strong or mean but if needed her children and her man she would defend to the death! Lost to us she was, a smile here and there maybe a flash of recognition.
Unknowing of all around her she was,sad eyed frighted lamb lonely lonely.
A true mother a heart – warming tribute to a beautiful lady. I understand all what you have written and said here – thank you.
Oct 21, 2013 @ 11:18:20
Thank you, this was the most difficult poem to write. Even harder to read because each time I read the lines about her after her strokes and my father’s death ” Lost to us she was, a smile here and there maybe a flash of recognition. Unknowing of all around her she was,sad eyed frighted lamb lonely lonely.” I cried infact I still do even after all these years. I was struck by your love for your parents in your writing, may they be with you for a while yet.
Oct 21, 2013 @ 11:21:04
I can imagine how difficult it must have been, but you were a trooper and she would of smiled, together with your dad. Yes I adore them and I do hope that they are with me for a while yet…it’s hard to imagine them not being and thank you xx
Oct 21, 2013 @ 11:37:27
I was sad that mum was lost to us and especially me I would trail all the way up to Hammersmith from the depths of Berkshire mostly on the train two boys 10yrs, 8yrs and baby and she did not know us. I wanted to talk I needed advice but I could not get through. Maybe it was she that could not get through I hope I did not distress her more by babbling on about this that anything to get her to see us. I don’t know how my brothers and sisters felt I felt cheated even angry. The night she died I dreamt she came to me and we talked and talked then in the morning the phone call came………. I had been with her until late the last days I remember getting a call at work. As luck would have it I had the car that day I dropped the boys off after school and drove like a maniac….. I don’t remember the drive I must of flown up the motorway I got there in 3/4 an hour! I did not cry at her funeral I brave… stupid more like, seven years later I broke down and said I was sorry for being so selfish and angry with her, I was so stupid I chewed myself up all that time because I though I was wicked and selfish but I know she understood.
Sorry I have gone on , I don’t think I have written an of that out before. Love your Mum and Dad make the most of them for as long as you can, but you know that already I can tell.
Oct 21, 2013 @ 11:44:00
Oh Willow ~ you brought tears. I know with mum her memory is going and she is starting to do some silly things – putting a teat-towel and tissues in the fridge. She cut the cuff of a casual (in house) fleecy jacket and couldn’t explain to me why she did it, only that she must have had a good reason.Some days she is more lucid, but I see that far away look in her eyes when we talk. Yes, I have got angry with her also, like you did with your mum. We can’t help it as we witness them slipping away. I believe in after life Willow and she and you did speak the night before. She was letting you know she was going. Patience is required I know especially with mum. With Pop it breaks my heart to see him like this. Life so cruel. I shall, I do – thank you for sharing your story {hugs} xx
Oct 21, 2013 @ 11:53:34
I have upset us both , sorry lets take a deep breath and get back on with coping. Your mum is in there just keep reminding her who she is and how much she is loved and just support your Pop he will need you more if your mum is slipping into the past. I am sending you love and wishing you lots of Gods help . Had I of met me now , when I was me then,I would of said be patient and smile . love to you thanks for listening.
Oct 21, 2013 @ 11:56:27
Deep breath taken, my bed calls me it’s 12pm now.
I shall try – it can be so hard and I was not blessed with much patience at all, but I know it’s not her when she does these things. I shall smile as tomorrow morning I have to take them for blood tests at 7.30…or will that be a grimace? Thank you for sharing – love back xx
Oct 21, 2013 @ 11:58:03
sleep well and don’t worry smile or grimace you are there for them. xxxxxx 😉
May 02, 2021 @ 14:04:57
This is a beautiful poem, Willow. The syntax of the writing sound European – Irish, I guess. So sad, the loss of her memory. Both of my husband’s mothers lost their memories. My mother did not, and fought pain the last moments of her life. But I had the joy of being her friend for many years as we both grew old together. You were the youngest, so you missed the really good years. I was the oldest, so I was blessed with most of her years. Thank you so much for sharing this lovely tribute with me. I hope you share it again for Mother’s Day.
May 02, 2021 @ 16:48:35
Thank you Marsha, I have shared it often
May 02, 2021 @ 18:49:25
As you should. 🙂
May 02, 2021 @ 21:24:35
Thank you 💜
May 02, 2021 @ 16:52:40
Thank you Marsha I have shore it often especially on mother’s Day 💜. Here is a poem I wrote about my Dad. https://willowdot21.wordpress.com/2016/06/19/fathers-daythe-quiet-man/
May 02, 2021 @ 18:49:07
This is a wonderful poem, Willow. Thank you so much for sharing it with me. This is one of the few places I mention my father that I remember. https://tchistorygal.net/2021/02/02/sunday-stills-lens-artists-133-my-landscape-journey-started-with-dad/
May 02, 2021 @ 21:25:54
Thank you Marsha, I shall have to read tomorrow it late and I am tired but I am looking forward to reading it.💜
May 03, 2021 @ 03:31:28
Thanks, Willow.
May 02, 2021 @ 14:50:54
Hi again Willow. Here was the tribute post I did for my mom a few years ago. https://tchistorygal.net/2014/05/11/happy-mothers-day-one-and-all/