Mother’s Day Poem for Those Who Have Lost Their Mothers

Mother’s Day Poem for those of us who have lost our moms.

Every Mother’s Day is bittersweet when your mom is no longer with you. My mom died at the age of 51 from colon cancer. She went to heaven in 1990 and even as I type this I shake my head in amazement that it has been that long. This picture is of mom and Grandma Layne and was made on Easter Sunday the year before Mom got sick.

mothers day poem
Shirley DeMumbrum Bell and Nettie DeMumbrum

What follows is a poem I wrote for my mom and my grandmother not long after my mom died.

 

Mother

By Teresa Bell Kindred

When you are young, she is cookies and milk after school.

She is a comforting hug after a bad dream in the middle of the night.

She is the cold rag on a feverish forehead.

A calm strength when you are frightened.

By the time you are a teenager, she is nosy and bossy.

She has more advice than Dear Abby.

She is old and out of touch.

She insists you go to church and prays daily you will not stray too far from the principles she has taught you.

She is the first to jump to your defense when someone criticizes you, and the first to tell you when you are wrong.

Years pass. You are a young woman and it is your wedding day.

She is more than your mother; she is your friend and she rejoices at your happiness.

The proud look on her face tells the world how much she loves you.

When she becomes a grandmother, the advice she gave you when you were a child suddenly takes on new meaning.

She never tires of hearing about her grandchildren’s antics or accomplishments, and she relishes in relating stories about them over and over to anyone who will listen.

Now it’s your turn.

When she holds her grandchild in her arms, you see the same look of love on her face that was there for you when you were a child.

More years pass and time begins to take its toll.

Her hair is now gray and her face lined with wrinkles. Her eyesight and hearing are failing.

Her body is bent and her step unsure.

She is forgetful and frail and then one day … she is gone.

She is memories of comforting hugs in the middle of the night, cookies and milk after school,

the proud look on her face the day of your wedding, the loving way she held your child.

She’s gone, and yet she is with you because when you look in the mirror you see the woman she molded,

As well as the little girl who still longs to run to the comfort of her mother’s arms.

Now it is your turn to do the things she did and when you do them

You remember her love and realize that at last you know her secret.

A mother is mortal, with imperfections and failings.

She cannot solve the problems of the universe, nor can she protect her children from every danger.

She can only try.

You wish with all your heart that you could tell her “thank you” one more time.

And you can almost hear her whisper, “Thank me by loving your children as much as I loved you.”

She has given you something priceless… the legacy of her love.

 

I hope you liked my Mother’s Day Poem.

Happy Mother’s Day to all moms….especially those who have lost their moms, because it’s hard when you don’t have your mother on Mother’s Day.

mothers day poem

Related posts:

  1. Celebrating Mothers at NanaHood
  2. Lost Baby Teeth: Are They Trash or Treasure
  3. Giving Thanks for Mothers
  4. Mother’s Day Poem for a Mom in Heaven

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27 Comments

  3. Your tribute and the beautiful poem brought tears to my eyes. We sure miss our mothers a lot when they are gone. May God bless you always.

  5. Shirley was always beautiful inside and out.. Grandma Layne too. I miss them,

  7. That’s a really lovely photo and great tribute to your mom. Thanks for linking up and giving me the chance to guest post over here. 🙂

  22. What beautiful photos & a beautiful tribute.
    Happy WW to you!
    I’m hosting a Mother’s Day giveaway for a book I’m sure you’d enjoy.
    Be sure to enter when you stop by Create With Joy this week! 🙂

  25. Oh wow, that is beautiful. I still have my mom, but she’s sick. Really sick and this may be her last Mother’s Day. I am going to do my best to make it a good one.

  27. THat is an absolutely beautiful photo of your mother and grandmother and the poem is beautiful. I am so sorry for your loss. I can’t begin to imagine the pain of losing your mother. This is such a touching post. I will be sure to give my mother a call today to tell her how much she means to me. Thank you for sharing. Xoxo.

    Josi

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