What I Have Not Been To The Few I Loved
What I have not been to the few I loved,
the cost of what I am. Whoever that is.
And the poor boy happy ending
that was supposed to conclude in money
to redeem the aristocratic poverty
of a doomed childhood, scrapped
from the start as slavishly predictable.
I shone for a while, angry and bright
and university was an easy ordeal of guilt
while my mother washed floors in the Uplands,
and I went through culture shock
in my own country to learn that
not everybody lived the way we did
never further than twenty concrete blocks
away from the despair and poverty of home.
Three meals a day and shopping tours
to Europe, with a jaunt to Auschwitz
along the way. My mother would dress up
for three hours to go to the corner-store.
And it was everything I could do
to keep from laughing out loud
at the pygmies of pain in English Honours
who cried their eyes out in the library
because their mothers were social butterflies
and it was the sixties on the West Coast
when no one was suppose to live in vain.
And I remember the little wet doctor's sons
who used to remind me of who
they thought I was, asking me, at the end
of an advanced Shakespeare seminar,
at the end of a creative writing class,
after a three hour oral exam on Marlowe,
to sell them heroin I didn't use or deal
to make them feel, like the postcards of Auschwitz
that showed the skulls in the furnaces
and read Arbeit macht frei,
they were slumming with reality, lest
I forget despite how well I did in class,
where I came from. And the difference
was obvious and lasting. So many things
I had to master just to wear a plausible lifemask
into the golden future of the middle class.
How to sit down at a table and eat
with cutlery as if I were doing surgery.
How to relate to the trivializing of the poor,
listening squeamishly to the screening myths
of how the rich suffer at their hands.
How my mother with hands and knees,
cracked like lobsters boiled in bleach
was leeching them dry on welfare.
I broke up with their daughters.
I punished their sons atavistically
and losing my taste for trying to prove
you could find diamonds in the coalbin
of everyone's ancestry, and I could stand
eye to eye with the stars as well as anyone,
I ran with a wolfpack of ex-cons
who accepted me as a well-educated
one of their own. And through it all
I returned to poetry after every brawl
and threw everybody off my back
to climb a private mountain of my own
while my mother said do
what makes you happy
and went on scrubbing floors.
poem by Patrick White
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Related quotes
Mother In Law
(a. toussaint)
Mother in law, mother in law
Mother in law, mother in law
The worst person I know
Mother in law, mother in law
She worries me so
Mother in law, mother in law
If she leaves us alone
We could have a happy home
Sent from down below
Mother in law, mother in law
Mother in law, mother in law
Satan should be her name
Mother in law, mother in law
To me theyre about the same
Mother in law, mother in law
Everytime I open my mouth
Steps in trying to put me out
How could you stood so low
Mother in law, mother in law
Mother in law, mother in law
Come home with my pay
Mother in law, mother in law
She asks me what I made
Mother in law, mother in law
She thinks her advice is a contribution
If she would leave that would be the solution
Dont come back no more
Mother in law, mother in law
Mother in law, mother in law....
song performed by by Huey Lewis And The News
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Mother's Son
It should never be done
For a mother to have to bury her son
In a sad tombstone filled place
Giving him over to the grounds embrace
It could have been anyone
But why, oh why was it a mother’s son?
Who decided to let him die?
What is she supposed to do?
Get back up and start to dry
The never ending tears from her eyes
He was her first and only hers
Now she’s living out the curse
Of life without him on this Earth
She remembers from his birth
Happy times, with no hurt
It could have been anyone
But why, oh why was it a mother’s son?
But over there is another
Bending, grieving a mother
But who is she to have to bear
Burdens that will always wear
On the hearts of mothers everywhere
She sees no life left to live
And yet her heart refuses to give
It is strong and will fight
And live the life
Taken away from one to young
It could have been anyone
But why, oh why was it a mother’s son?
poem by Rae Carroll
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Oh! My Mama, Happy Mother's Day!
Oh! My mama, happy mother's day
You are the greatest mother I have ever had
You are my mother today
You will be my mother tomorrow
You are always my mother
You will forever be my mother
Thank you my mother for bringing me into this world
Thank you my mother for taking care of me in your womb
Thank you my mother caring for me as a toddler
Thank you my mother for feeding me since I was a baby
Thank you my mother for all the clothes you bought for me
Thank you my mother for teaching me good manners at home
Thank you my mother for sending me to school
Thank you my mother for supervising my homework
Thank you my mother for ensuring I eat before going to school
Thank you my mother for all the regular pocket money
Thank you my mother for liking my friends
Thank you my mother for all the everyday advices
My mother always remind me that fingers are not equal
As I grow up, I have seen the correlation of this analogy
To many human beings, neighbors, societies and nationalities
Oh! My mama, thank you for your words of wisdom
My mother taught me many things that I have never read in books
Thank you my mother for all your guiding philosophies
Oh! My mama, I sincerely wish everyday could be Mother's Day
One day in a year is not enough to thank my wonderful mother
Oh! My mama, I will forever be your child
Oh! My mama, you will eternally be my mother
Thank you my mother for being my best friend
Thank you my mother for being my trusted adviser
I honestly wish you HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!
poem by Bikramjyoti Kashyop
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Oh! My Mama, Happy Mother's Day!
Oh! My mama, happy mother’s day
You are the greatest mother I have ever had
You are my mother today
You will be my mother tomorrow
You are always my mother
You will forever be my mother
Thank you my mother for bringing me into this world
Thank you my mother for taking care of me in your womb
Thank you my mother caring for me as a toddler
Thank you my mother for feeding me since I was a baby
Thank you my mother for all the clothes you bought for me
Thank you my mother for teaching me good manners at home
Thank you my mother for sending me to school
Thank you my mother for supervising my homework
Thank you my mother for ensuring I eat before going to school
Thank you my mother for all the regular pocket money
Thank you my mother for liking my friends
Thank you my mother for all the everyday advices
My mother always remind me that fingers are not equal
As I grow up, I have seen the correlation of this analogy
To many human beings, neighbors, societies and nationalities
Oh! My mama, thank you for your words of wisdom
My mother taught me many things that I have never read in books
Thank you my mother for all your guiding philosophies
Oh! My mama, I sincerely wish everyday could be Mother’s Day
One day in a year is not enough to thank my wonderful mother
Oh! My mama, I will forever be your child
Oh! My mama, you will eternally be my mother
Thank you my mother for being my best friend
Thank you my mother for being my trusted adviser
I honestly wish you HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!
poem by Julius Babarinsa
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My Wife Treats Was Like My Mother
Mother
Did you know how much you look great
On those dress of pink.
I know mother
Your dreams was to become a country singer
But, did you know mother
That, you are my favourite singer.
You look so gorgeous
When you are feeding your sons.
And you look so angel
When you prepare meals for me.
OH! Mother
I will remember you even if I died of remembering.
poem by Auty Paul Jason
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Auschwitz
The Kommandant's a decent guy,
I know he wouldn't hurt a fly -
When I asked him if the Jews would die
He shook his head and told his lie,
'The Fuhrer wants his money's worth,
It's not a question of their birth,
If they pull their weight then they will live,
The Germans know how to forgive!
Haven't you heard their happy cry
'Arbeit Macht Frei! Arbeit Macht Frei! '?
Our Leader has a heart of gold,
That's what his followers have been told.
It's a pity that your friend's a Jew,
A slight mistake, in my point of view,
Remember we're the master race
And wipe that frown from off your face! '
poem by John Thorkild Ellison
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What a mother should be
A mother is the one who loves you
A mother puts no drug above you
A mother will never make you cry
A mother will never make you want to die
A mother will help you fight your fears
A mother will help you stop your tears
A mother will keep you safe and sound
A mother will never let you down
A mother will daily say I love you
A mother won’t say I hate you
A mother won’t wish you were dead
A mother won’t forget what you said
A mother won’t close the door
A mother won’t let you be poor
Now I ask you, do you have a mother?
Cause’ I don’t, so don’t bother.
poem by Carlisa Smith
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Mother Advice
Mother used to say
'what comes easy goes easy'.
I used to hear it
but never believed it could be true
Always thought that what comes from heart
Never goes easy, ,
But the life is the greates shcool
That makes us
Live it
Above our own skins
And Feel the pain
To Learn it
Oh, mother I learned
All that you have said
Were pretty true
Just I had learnd them over my own skin
Lived the pain and
I Had to pay a lot
To learn that mother never told me lies
But it took from me a lot to learn
'mother advice'
poem by Sossi Khachadourian
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Helpless With Dementia
I was a victim of dementia
I could not remember recent things
Confined to a small lock down area
When I had a visitor, I was so happy
I can’t remember that I wasn’t a real mother to you
Or when I let others abuse and beat you too
I am now at the mercy of all others
Oh how I pray you forgave me too
You tried your best to take care of me
But I kept wandering off, only wanting to be free
You felt such guilt and cried many tears
When the doctor said you could no longer take care of me
I know you searched many nursing homes
To find that special place, that would care for me
A place of love, where i couldn’t roam
A place with nurses, where I’d be safe
You paced the floors and cried
Each time they sent me to the hospital
They would say I must haven fallen
They were convincing with their lies
Bruises on my face, they weren’t all falls
Violent patients abused me
I was at the mercy of all of them
Said they wouldn’t break elder laws
They had an excuse for everything
Blow after blow
You tried to stay most of the time
For you they put on a show
When you were there
They would paint my finger nails
And fix my hair
When you were gone I was tied to a chair
They took my dignity and self respect
They were paid by the hour, and didn’t care
Towards the end, they say I fell and broke my hip
Next week told I fell and broke my leg
Once a week I was at the emergency room
You always beat the ambulance there
The last hospital visit, I got a staph infection
The doctor said i was near the end
I couldn’t tell you what they did to me
Because I forgot so much
You stayed by my side until the end
Telling me you loved me, and softly singing hyms
The angels came for me one night
And ended all my pain
Please don’t cry for me anymore
I’ve been made whole again
I look down at you, and wish I could take the pain away
I’m in heaven now and this is where I must stay!
To all that have loved ones with dementia, please guard their care.
All nursing homes are not the way they seem. They will put on a show for you so they can make their blood money. They neglected and abused my mother. So I am her voice.
To my mother who did the best she knew how to.
poem by Donna Nimmo
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Poverty is everyone's problem. It cuts across any line you can name: age, race, social, geographic or religious. Whether you are black or white; rich, middle-class or poor, we are ALL touched by poverty.
quote by Kathleen Blanco
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Listen To Your Mother
'Wait till your Father get's home'
that was what my Mother would say
but he'd see me all well behaved
so I'd be off out again to play.
'Look at the state of your clothes'
that was what my Mother would say
but I'd tell her someone pushed me over
when really I'd played Football most of the day.
'Don't you forget to do your homework'
that was what my Mother would say
but instead of writing about Kings of England
I'd be reading about Footballers like Greaves and Pele.
'Your a right little cheeky Monkey '
that was what my Mother would say
but I'd tell her that she loved me really
which always seemed to make her day.
'I won't be around for ever you know'
that was what my mother used to say
'What do you mean of course you will
you'll be here in the house all old and Grey.'
'I really miss your Mother you know '
that was what my Father used to say
but I thought she'd be here forever
nobody told me that Mothers can pass away.
But we had a great Mother and Son relationship
and she knew I was just being a young lad
but when I'm down I just think of her
and those thoughts always make me feel glad.
poem by Kevin Halls
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I Like My Mother
There's candy
Icecream
Chocalate
Good dreams
And I like my Mother!
Mothers are sweet
Mothers are nice
They help you
Give you good advice
And they make you cookies!
I like my Mother!
I like my Mother!
I like my Mother!
I Like my Mother!
I really
Like
My Mother!
Theres Uncles
Cousins
Sisters
Brothers
Fathe rs
And I like my Mother!
And I pray God
You'll let my Mother live a thousand years
So I don't have to get a job or do anything
And I can just live with my mother!
I like my Mother!
I like my Mother!
I like my Mother!
I like my Mother!
I really
Like
My Mother!
poem by Art Paul Schlosser
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My Real Goddess
Today my mother
Came to my house
With lots of blessing
And full of good wishing
To live long
Happy and healthy
Progressive and wealthy
My mother
My sweet mother
My beautiful mother
My loving mother
My real goddess
My ever goodness
My first lady I loved
My life my mother
My soul my mother
My God-gift my mother
My pride my mother
My aim my mother
My teacher my mother
My friend my mother
My preacher my mother
My daughter's face look-like my mother
My daughter my little mother
O the Absolute Almighty
Give me my mother
Again and again
And again and again
My mother
Only my mother.
poem by Dr. P. K. Verma
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Unseen
something's wrong with mother always cleaning the house
and father complains for she does nothing but sweep and scrub
and dust and wipe and rub,
the floors are shiny and father does not like it
he may slide and the children too
and each may hurt the body, but mother cannot be stopped
and we complain like what father does, but mother does not
really mind, for she has become so hardheaded because father
slaps her and we make her deaf with our grumblings
until then when mother died and father cried and we felt we had all our
lives wasted, but there was one in the family who smiled
someone who thought that mother simply did what she liked best
clean the dirt, mop the floors, get all the spider's cobwebs
someone sees the beauty of mother, she's doing her chores still
but now unseen
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Dear Mother Dearest
Mothers Day comes once a year,
But no matter what your always here,
You care for me during the day,
You protect me at night,
Here with my mother I know i will always be alright,
When the hard times are bad and when im feelings sad,
My mother cheers up my mood and dispells my groove,
Yes, with mother only good times are had and I know they will never go bad,
Mother what im trying to say is no money, no diamonds, no way,
I just wanted to wish you a Happy Mothers Day! ! !
To My Mother Alicia Williams
poem by Alexander Parra
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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You Are The Mother Beneath Our Wings Dedicated to my mother who thought she had nothing to give-but gave the wisest things!
You are the mother beneath our wings, born into poverty brought us the
wealth of many kings, When you art young and don't have anything, you rely on
your Mother to give you everything, For a poor mother who had nothing you gave the
wisest things, You are the Mother beneath our wings.
Being poor was a rich experience for us and heartbreaking for you
You planted many seeds and nourished your ten kids needs
You gave us the wealth of may kings-coming from poverty taught us many things
The way you loved your life, being the kissin' bandit's wife
We were dirt poor, but it wasn't all bad
If material wealth as all we had-We wouldn't appreciate life and be thankful for what
we have. What you gave was unique, prized above material things
To each child special gifts you did bring
We were never too poor to give something-when you think you can't give nothing
You van give the wisest things-The love you gave will be treasured more than anything
When the trumpet blows and you rise up to meet your king
REMEMBER the lilies blooming in spring and that you gave your best in EVERYTHING!
poem by Miriam McKee
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Mother Mother Mother
How you cared for us. Don't keep away from us.I won't surive without you/ Mother Mother Mother Your eyes show me the way. When I fall on my way. You lend me a hand to carry on. Mother Mother Mother You had a very hard life. But you gave your baby your own bread from your own mouth. When she feels hungry. Mother Mother Mother If I pass though this word. I wouldn't find you anywhere. Your sweet smile makes me happy. Mother Mother Mother My love for you will go on forever. I love you my Mother Mother Mother forever and ever. written 6/23/08 Posted 10/27/08 In the memory of my mother Esther Ferber Klayton
poem by Susie Sunshine
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Her Woes
the social welfare
officer carries
her bouncing baby
boy
the social welfare
officer says the boy
is healthy
the mother has
meningitis and
cannot support
the boy
he needs a lot
of milk
he is heavy and
he smiles a
lot and he
stares at his
mother
who has no
mind of her own
now
the social welfare
officer carries
the baby in her arms
and i am signing
the papers
attesting to the
mother's having
to give up the
boy for
welfare,
her sister from
Calape
has six kids
and her husband
is jobless
the boy stares
at her mother
who says
she is moving
to another place
to forget him
she was raped.
she got pregnant.
they are poor.
and she has to give
up the boy
the boy keeps
staring at her
mother.
their woes.
would you like
to carry the boy, sir?
he says.
No. he is definite.
No. His answer.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Ya Ba Ye
YA BI NA YA!...
Tell me why
Tell me why
You run?
My mother's always told me
YA BINTI
Don't forget
MIN FAIN IN-TI
Remember who you are
Listen to the voice
That plays in your head
Make the right choice
Tell me why
Tell me why
YA BI NA YA
Tell me why
Tell me why
You run?
My mother says, my mother says
YA BA YE, YA BA YE
Tell me why
Tell me why
You run?
I had to see it my way
'Cause life is very short
The more I try to learn
The less I seem to know
Oh - I cry in my bed
Ye... I miss my home
The home I can't forget
I hear my mother's voice
Tell me why
Tell me why
YA BI NA YA
Tell me why
Tell me why
You cry?
My mother says, my mother says
YA BA YE, YA BA YE
Don't run away
YA BA YE, YA BA YE
Tell me why
Tell me why
YA BI NA YA
Tell me why
Tell me why
You run?
My mother says, my mother says
YA BA YE, YA BA YE
Tell me why
Tell me why
YA BI NA YA
Don't run away
YA BA YE, YA BA YE
Tell me why
Tell me why
You cry?
Don't run away
YA BA YE, YA BA YE
Don't run away
Tell me why
Tell me why
You run?
song performed by by Ofra Haza
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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They need their wives to live peacefully!
Once I had a patient,
An elderly female patient,
She had two sons,
Both had discussions;
Who has to take the mother
for a cataract to the doctor?
Elder son brought the mother,
The surgery was over;
The son brought her
for post-operative check up,
Son was telling me secretly
to ask his mother to help
his wife occasionally;
Mother was telling me secretly
to ask her son to get
nutritious tonics frequently,
I convinced both of them suitably,
Both of them went happily;
Sons are like that,
They can't help it,
They need their wives
to live peacefully!
poem by V.K. Kanniappan
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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