Friday, May 23, 2008

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Tomorrow is my mother, Carolyn's, birthday. She'll be 79. After caring for my dad for many years and losing him last month, she is doing quite well. Drowning in paperwork, but otherwise she's OK. I'm hoping she can come for a visit soon.

Anyway, just to say Happy Birthday, here's a poem I wrote in 1987 when I was in college.


Spring Planting

In early April,
My mother takes out her trowel and digs.

Mud caked knees
On ten year old pants,
And there is not anything for her but the marigolds.

Time never touches her,
As she kneels
Still unaware
Of my care, and what I have taken to be true.

And it was only this year
That I realized that I have seen her
Every year since I can remember
Stooped over rain-soaked soil,
Smiling to the mailman.