Mothering the mother

I hold my first grandson, who is 1 month old in my arms.  His whole face and sleepy frame speaks of innocence and trust. I really have to get used to being called a Grandma now.  The cycle of life loops.  I am transported back to the past, back to time I first held my first born in April.   We stayed in my family's ancestral home during my maternity leave. It was a hot summer month, yet I felt soothed by the  abundance of mango, papaya and banana trees around the house.  It was the season of ripeness and the house buzzed with energy. 

As a first time mother, I was excited to dive into my new role.  I followed the doctor's instructions and kept a diary.   If my son would cry or have a bum stomach, my mother and grandmother and I would have a quick meeting and discuss solutions.  It was a "mother's conference only" and I was lucky to benefit from their wisdom.  My mother's wings were wet, but I flew confidently with their wind sails beneath me.     

My son burps his baby, cradling him with strength of giant willow tree.         

chickadees frolic
as tropical heat dries blankets- 
i smell - milk & sunshine -  


Posted for dVerse Poets Pub - Haibun Monday, hosted by Jilly.   
Thanks for the visit ~

needles of wisdom

you carry your burdens with a slight stoop of your frame.   looking at you, no one would suspect, your body aches from the onslaught of many storms.  your face, well-worn book, scratched page by page, shines with love.  time has made a map on your skin, scribbled with grooves, scars and webbed lines.   you mend our broken bones with sap, our shattered hearts with green. your wrinkled hands are salve to our misdeeds and disastrous accidents.   with textured depths and firm roots, you show us your wisdom as we rise, flying with the gulls.   we carry your words wherever we go.

 

wild lilac blooms along

unpaved path, stony with dust-

lighthouse flickers- steady

Posted for D'verse Poets Pub - Haibun Monday ~ A tribute to the beauty and wisdom of mothers and grandmothers ~ Please join us when the pub doors open at 3pm EST ~  Thanks for the visit ~

Those invisible hands

during the job interview,
he was asked to clean his mother's hands
and come back the next day-

so the young man came home
& requested to wash his mother's hands-

for the first time, he sees
her gnarled thick veins,

bruises & small knots wrinkling
palms from washing & rinsing clothes

day in & day out, water & detergent
scalding skin dry & paper thin

she winces with pain as his hands
smooth & fine, brush hers tenderly-

it dawned on him 
the sacrifices she, a widow had done to give him

good education, time to study & never to 

worry about chores & future, while she washes

and cleans clothes, bending her shoulders to task-
an invisible & tireless worker-

slowly the young man stands up
& washes the remaining clothes-

he makes a promise:
he will now carry her torch

& her hands-
                   her hands will be his guide- 

This is based on an inspirational story I read this morning: (You can skip this as its long, smiles)

One young man went to apply for a managerial position in a big company. He passed the initial interview, and now would meet the director for the final interview.

The director discovered from his CV that the youth's academic achievements were excellent. He asked, "Did you obtain any scholarships in school?" the youth answered "no".

" Was it your father who paid for your school fees?"

"My father passed away when I was one year old, it was my mother who paid for my school fees.” he replied.

" Where did your mother work?"

"My mother worked as clothes cleaner.”

The director requested the youth to show his hands. The youth showed a pair of hands that were smooth and perfect.

" Have you ever helped your mother wash the clothes before?"

"Never, my mother always wanted me to study and read more books. Besides, my mother can wash clothes faster than me.

The director said, "I have a request. When you go home today, go and clean your mother's hands, and then see me tomorrow morning.

The youth felt that his chance of landing the job was high. When he went back home, he asked his mother to let him clean her hands. His mother felt strange, happy but with mixed feelings, she showed her hands to her son.

The youth cleaned his mother's hands slowly. His tear fell as he did that. It was the first time he noticed that his mother's hands were so wrinkled, and there were so many bruises in her hands. Some bruises were so painful that his mother winced when he touched it.

This was the first time the youth realized that it was this pair of hands that washed the clothes everyday to enable him to pay the school fees. The bruises in the mother's hands were the price that the mother had to pay for his education, his school activities and his future.

After cleaning his mother hands, the youth quietly washed all the remaining clothes for his mother.

That night, mother and son talked for a very long time.

Next morning, the youth went to the director's office.

The Director noticed the tears in the youth's eyes, when he asked: "Can you tell me what have you done and learned yesterday in your house?"

The youth answered," I cleaned my mother's hand, and also finished cleaning all the remaining clothes'

“I know now what appreciation is. Without my mother, I would not be who I am today. By helping my mother, only now do I realize how difficult and tough it is to get something done on your own. And I have come to appreciate the importance and value of helping one’s family.

The director said, "This is what I am looking for in a manager. I want to recruit a person who can appreciate the help of others, a person who knows the sufferings of others to get things done, and a person who would not put money as his only goal in life.”

“You are hired.”

This young person worked very hard, and received the respect of his subordinates. Every employee worked diligently and worked as a team. The company's performance improved tremendously.

Posted for D'verse Poets Pub - Hosted by Mary - Part 2 -
Picture credit:   here

on realizing you are

raw-

as seeds,

softened soil, 

nurturing      sky

hard thrusting of birth

sweat, blood & fears mingling

with joy... and the unknown looms 

like   giant  tidal   waves,  you    feel   

the weight on your shoulders & though your 

hands  are  gentle now,  your  eyes are all fire- 

A New Beginning by Canadian artist:  Maxine Noel
Grace @ Everyday Amazing

Posted for Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - Corey's prompt on Raw
and Sunday's Mini-challenge by Hedgewitch - Etheree form ~  Happy weekend ~

Happy Mother's Day~

Here's to the ones who gave the life

to the souls from the starry skies

here's to the ones that encircle the earth

with the light of their loving eyes.

Here's to the one who never forgets

though I roam the wide world over

whose love can banish all regrets

God's sweetest gift - my mother!

Poem credit:   http://samuru999.blogspot.com/2011/05/toast-to-mothers.html

Picture credit: prettylittleflower.tumbr