Rough Mother’s Day here. I don’t know why after 6 years this one is
hitting me so hard, but I’m a weepy mess. That will make getting groceries
later a lot of fun! However, if you’re in a place that’s celebrating Mother’s
Day today I hope you’re having a fabulous one – or finding the solace you need
if you’re in the same place I’m in. That said, let’s move onto more uplifting
things.
The Poetry Bus has gone into a ditch somewhere and TotalFeckinEejit
is no more. While we mourn the loss of both transportation and our fearless
leader, a new forum has crept out from underneath the carriage (thanks NanU!). The Poetry Jam promises to be a great
place to read fabulous poetry – I think we’ll have some new (what do we call
ourselves now – not riders anymore – jammers? fiddlers? or, for heaven’s sake, poets?) anyway there’ll be new people
participating along with our old favorites.
So, for the inaugural jam, The Watercats have asked us to write a
poem about birthdays. I’m in the throes of a poetry drought, so I’m posting
a poem I wrote to my cousin on the occasion of her birthday in about 1984 or
1985 when we were in college together. This is actually the second poem I’d
written to her about the difficulty of getting her a birthday gift. The first
one starts out this way: “You shore are a pain, you old Kim Jane.” But I
decided not to share that one today. I’m a little offended by my use of what I
must have thought was stereotypical mountain colloquial language – but I don’t
want to clean it up just yet. Maybe later. So, here’s what you’re getting
instead:
El Cheapo, El Brokeo
Kim,
Now, I love to buy gifts –
You know that’s so.
But, gifts are expensive
And money don’t grow
On trees in my yard.
(Though I work very hard)
There’s not much I can do
Without hurting your feelings
So I’ll try to make you
Understand what I mean.
I guess I’ll come clean
And explain my lament –
It’s hard to buy gifts
With just 18 cents.
 |
| My cousin and me just a few years before the poem was written |
Great poem, Dana.
ReplyDeleteSending you hugs today. Though I'm surrounded by my own children and one big nosed dog who appreciate me being their mom, I find myself missing my own mother intensely.
Sorry...didn't mean to cry all over your post. Just brush those tears aside.
This is one fine Mother's Day ... I am suffering from a really nasty head cold / upper lung thing! I can't taste or smell. Don't dare go near anyone. In spite of it all, I have had lovely (nasal) dialogue with kids and relatives around the country today.
ReplyDeleteYour Poetry Jam poem is a good one, for sure! 18 cents, I almost remember those times.
Be happy.
Love the poem!
ReplyDeleteMy parents banned Mother's Day and so did I and now my children with their families - it's a huge commercial moneyfest and has little or nothing to do with appreciation. Why choose one day in the year for that?
So fresh and funny and honest. What could be better? Nuthin'.
ReplyDeleteAww...I love the photo of you and your cousin. I probably would have liked the poem you decided not to post too...but the one you did..is great! I think my Mom has been gone now for 7 1/2 yrs. Sure wish I could have a chat with her sometimes...I know you wish the same with your Mom. Hugs!
ReplyDeleteBig hugs to you today! Mother's Day is bittersweet for a lot of people. You certainly aren't alone there! xo
ReplyDeletewould love to see the other one!! but this was good fun.
ReplyDeleteGood stuff, and loved the final line. 'Cents' is so much better than 'pence'.
ReplyDeleteLove to you, great photograph too!
Hugs to you, Dana.
ReplyDeleteThere's been many a time I'd have preferred a poem to a clunker birthday gift. Great offering!
They always say its the thought that counts anyway.. :)
ReplyDeleteYou could have bought a street of houses for 18c in 1984, you old skinflint.
ReplyDeleteGood lord, 27 years of writing - you must have quite a collection!
Cute poem. You and your cousin look enough alike to be sisters. Two bugs in a rug!
ReplyDeleteIt would make a great birthday card. I have a pic of my cousin and I sitting in the same pram (we were born within a week of each other). I'll have to dig it out.
ReplyDeleteI try not to dwell on Mother's day, but there are so many mothers gone from my life -some I knew well, some are just names in my family tree and I find myself wondering what they were like and lamenting the fact that I never knew them- I'm now the oldest Mom in my family. Love your Birthday poem! Since it's for Poetry Jam is it okay to say you may can it?
ReplyDeletelove that photo :-) and the poem is just perfect, you gotta love a bit of colloquial mountain talkin sometimes, specially when you a young-un :-D
ReplyDeleteBetter than any Hallmark card on the market! Love the rhyme and the humor.
ReplyDeletePoems are ALWAYS are good gift-worth much more than 18 cents!
ReplyDeleteYes yes! Give poems, not trinkets. And what a cute picture>
ReplyDelete