A Poem for Mother’s Day

I wanted to write down this memory, and this is the form in which it came out. When I write about my mother, I tend to write about the loss of her (I have a lot to say on the subject). This is about something she gave me –something good, I think – but something nuanced and complicated, as things between mothers and daughters cannot help but be. 

No More Tears

When I was maybe 8 or 9

I sat crosslegged on the gymnasium floor

all the school attending I don’t recall what

a row of teachers just behind me 

and one of them paid a compliment

to the smooth, sun-burnished hair 

that hung down my back

 

“Look how it shines!” she envied, and

the other women clucked in agreement

I turned, smiled and said thank you

surprised to be singled out,

told that any part of me was lovely to behold

And ever since then, I have known

I have known that my hair is beautiful

 

Just this morning, I remembered:

Every morning before elementary school
my mother sat behind me

and she brushed my knotted, wavy hair

She sprayed it with No More Tears

She smoothed it with V05

As I whined, longing to break free

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Phyllis]

What a lovely memory! I still have a few Easter photos, when my Mother would sew new dresses for the 3 sisters, & a new tie for my brother. We smiled, but we all thought we'd rather be in play clothes!

I also recall the Saturday line up in the basement, when we girls all got a perm. Daddy would come in from outdoors holding his nose & laughing. Sunday morning the 2 older sisters would be very upset - refusing to leave the house looking like "this"!