MELODY FOR MOTHER’S DAY GRANDMA

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

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

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

Great teacher flower lover Awesome cook fantastic christian Delightful person Marvelous at caring Amazing listener

I love you, Grandma!

—Lily Pruss Benton

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

HAIKU

Mother’s Day solo a spider wriggling up between the keys

— Pat Laster 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. Poets’ Roundtable of Arkansas is scheduled to meet on May 18, 2024, at the Parkview United Methodist Church, 514 North Border Street, Benton.