A Mother's Love

One word: Mother -

Carries so much meaning.

Her gentle hands guide a babe's first steps and tumbles,

Cluck encouragement, and

Wipe away impulsive tears.

She feeds a growing imagination

With stories about the mermaids and fog fairies.

She soothes fears of the dark,

And adores the ugly handmade christmas ornaments

Brought home from school.

She loves the tulips stolen from the neighbor's yard,

but says thank you and cautions,

Don't do that any more!

Mother is a child's guide to the world,

That first Valentine,

Given in adoration with red construction paper hearts.

She is the voice of reason

When stubborn ears refuse to listen.

And in times of crisis, however real or imagined,

She is the calm inside the storm.

As an adult I think of all the work you did -

And the love you gave,

And the advice you offered.

And I can't believe one woman could do it all

And make it look so effortless.

No few lines of verse

Could ever pay true enough tribute

To the love and work of mother.

Yet it's the least a daughter could do.