A Poem for my Mom…

Beth and I started going through closets and bookshelves today as we prepare for a near-future downsizing. In the back of one of our many closets, I found a box that had some old newspaper clippings and memorabilia from my childhood and It was if I’d opened a time capsule. Seeing all the photos of the handbell ensemble, “Strikepoint” that I was part of when we toured the US, Hawaii, Hong Kong and Japan in 1986 really brought back some great memories of some wonderful times spent with some amazing people. As I dug further down in the box, I found lyrics to the first song that I wrote back in 1979…. (so, for those of you who wondered how old I was when I wrote my first song, the answer is 11.) A few layers down I found a poem that I wrote to my Mom and as near as I could tell from where it was in the box, I was about 10 when I wrote it. I’d like to share it as it was actually pretty sweet. Here it is:

I LOOK OUT THE WINDOW THROUGH ICE-GLAZED GLASS TO CAST MY EYES ON FROST BITTEN GRASS.

FALL IS ENDING, WINTER IS NEAR. THE ICE ON THE WINDOW MAKES THAT QUITE CLEAR.

“BREAKFAST IS READY!” MY MOTHER YELLS.

I LOVE THE WAY HER MUFFINS SMELL.

I THINK TO MYSELF AS I LAY BACK ON MY BED, OF ALL THE NICE THINGS SHE HAS DONE AND SAID.

SHE WASHES MY LAUNDRY AND MAKES ME FOOD. I TAKE IT FOR GRANTED WHEN IN A BAD MOOD.

I WANT TO THANK HER BUT THE WORDS WON’T COME. I FEEL QUITE AWKWARD AND KIND OF DUMB.

“LAST CALL!” I HEAR MY MOM SAY.

I THINK TO MYSELF, TODAY’S THE DAY.

As I look back on my life at all of the people who have come and gone, the reality of how quickly time passes hits me hard and I freely admit that I get a little teary. I hope you’ll reach out to a loved one who you haven’t connected with in awhile and let them know how much you appreciate them and don’t wait because as Jim Rohn used to say, “None of us get out of here alive and none of us know how long we have.”

~Neal