Poets Forum
MELODY FOR MOTHER’S DAY
My friends, do you remember
When you were very small
And evening came, you knew that soon You’d hear your mother’s call?
She gathered up her little ones
Like fledglings in the nest.
Her arms felt safe and warm as wings When she rocked her babes to rest.
You never meant to hurt her As careless children do.
Looking back, you know for sure
She cried those tears for you.
But mothers breathe forgiveness
And in her tender prayer
She asked the Lord to hold you close In His own special care.
And there’ll be fewer tears
For God to wipe away
From your dear mother’s eyes On Resurrection Day
If you are there to answer
When the dead in Christ shall rise. There’ll be fewer tears for God To wipe from Mother’s eyes.
— Faye Boyette Wise Deceased
SHE MADE YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE
So many times she cared for you When you weren’t feeling well;
And even when you broke her heart, Her lips would never tell.
For all those times she did without So you could have your things Expressed a love and loyalty
Desired by all the kings.
But swiftly move the hands of time
Till she’s beneath the sod,
Then most of all you realized
You were so blessed of God.
For God had searched the universe To make your dreams come true,
And then he filled your mother’s heart With all that love for you.
— Don Crowson Deceased
CHILDREN OF A DIFFERENT MOTHER
The flags are beautiful this year.
They are what Mother called irises. Her green thumb saluted them all, but bronze ones, her aristocrats. She cooed
to dark green shafts, stooped long hours in Spring sun, pulled weeds and silted soil. They stood straight, grateful for her tender touch.
The colors, clannish. Whites like ladies’ hankies; yellows, huddled prayer warriors; and majestic purples, aloof, tall in the far corner.
Mother, gone three years, must look down with pleasure as the lapis lazuli sky dotes in her stead over the flag bed this May.
— Dennis Patton Alexander
LOST AND FOUND
Today, I came upon a scrapbook, it was love at first sight— glossy photos of Mom and Dad, all taken in black and white.
A treasure trove of memories, from cover to cover – what I wouldn’t give to relive them in color.
— Mike Pafundi Deceased
GRANDMA
Great teacher flower lover Awesome cook fantastic christian Delightful person Marvelous at caring Amazing listener
I love you, Grandma!
—Lily Pruss Benton
To submit poems for publication, please send poems of 16 or fewer lines to Dennis Patton, 2512 Springhill Circle, Alexander, AR 72002, or patton_dr@hotmail.com. The Saline County Branch of PRA is scheduled to meet at 1:00 pm, at the Parkview United Methodist Church, 514 North Border Street, Benton, AR, on May 21.