Friday, May 9, 2008

Two Poems for Mother's Day

Here are two poems for Mother’s Day. I’m posting them especially for my mother…who turned ninety in February.


My Mother with One of Her Great Grandsons in 2002

Sonnets are full of love, and this my tome

by Christina Rossetti

Sonnets are full of love, and this my tome
Has many sonnets: so here now shall be
One sonnet more, a love sonnet, from me
To her whose heart is my heart’s quiet home,
To my first Love, my Mother, on whose knee
I learnt love-lore that is not troublesome;
Whose service is my special dignity,
And she my loadstar while I go and come
And so because you love me, and because
I love you, Mother, I have woven a wreath
Of rhymes wherewith to crown your honored name:
In you not fourscore years can dim the flame
Of love, whose blessed glow transcends the laws
Of time and change and mortal life and death.


Yellow Sonnet
by Paul Zimmer

Zimmer no longer wishes to write
About the dimming of his lights,
Recounting all his small terrors.
Instead he tells of brilliance,
Walking home from first grade
In springtime, light descending
To hold itself and dazzle him
In an outburst of dandelions.

You can read the rest of the poem here.


Happy Mother’s Day!


At Blue Rose Girls, I also have some special poems for Mother’s Day.

Wrter2b has the Poetry Friday Roundup.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

How lucky you are to have your mom still. Sigh. What a lovely tribute.

Elaine Magliaro said...

Jone,

I certainly am fortunate to still have my mother with me--and she is in good health! My husband, daughter, and I are taking her out for dinner Sunday night to celebrate Mother's Day.

Jules at 7-Imp said...

What a beautiful post. First loves, indeed.

Jules, 7-Imp

Elaine Magliaro said...

Jules,

My mother is a gem. She took care of my daughter so I could return to teaching.

jama said...

Thanks for sharing such lovely poems for Mother's Day -- both here and at BRG. Like you, I am blessed with a healthy mom (mine is 83).

Andromeda Jazmon said...

These are really special. I might have to print them out for my mother too! Thank you.

Kelly said...

Happy Mother's Day to you and your Mom, Elaine! What a beautiful photo :)

Elaine Magliaro said...

Jama,

We are fortunate indeed to have our mothers still with us--and still healthy.


Cloudscome,

Since I first read Paul Zimmer's "Yellow Sonnet" in Paul Janeczko's book THE PLACE MY WORDS ARE LOOKING FOR, it's been a favorite.


Kelly,

Thanks...and Happy Mother's Day to you, too!. I just hope the sunshine returns by tomorrow.