Monday, October 17, 2016

DMC: "Mother's Heart" by M. H. Barnes





MOTHER’S  HEART 


At the kitchen               table, the color
of sunshine and the       centerpiece of  my
childhood, Mother sat doodling our names in
a steno book, over and over, a puffy cloud of
squiggles on the page, tossed this way and
that.  You could read her possession of
us in every direction, and we were
safe on that page, cast in ink,
belonging to her forever.  
In an idle moment, I
think about my
mother and
draw. 


© 2014 Michelle Heidenrich Barnes. All rights reserved.


I originally posted "Mother's Heart" on March 6, 2014. I also wrote poems for my mother for Mother's Day 2013 and Mother's Day 2014. I suspect for some of you, though, this challenge is not so easy. Relationships can be complicated and emotionally taxing. While writing poetry can be cathartic, sometimes what we write is just for ourselves. If you write a poem for your mother but decide not to share, let me know at TodaysLittleDitty (at) gmail (dot) com and I'll enter you in this month's drawing regardless. If I were to make one suggestion for those feeling overwhelmed by the scope of this challenge, it would be to focus on one memory, one vignette, be it doodling at the kitchen table or watering plants. Think small.


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Kenn Nesbitt has challenged us to write poems for our mothers this month. Click HERE for more details.

Post your poem on our October 2016 padlet. All contributions will be included in a wrap-up celebration on Friday, October 28th, and one lucky participant will win an autographed copy of Kenn's delightful new anthology, forthcoming from Little, Brown Books for Young Readers on November 1, 2016:





28 comments:

  1. Well, that is wonderful. Thank you for sharing! -Ed

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  2. safe on the page, cast in ink -- lovely, Michelle. I like the format very much, too. I wrote a poem for my mom a while back: http://tabathayeatts.blogspot.com/2011/05/gift.html

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    1. Oh! Beautiful, Tabatha. Especially love your descriptive ribbon colors and, of course, that wonderful ending!

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  3. Michelle this is wonderful and I love that it forms a heart and that you have such a wonderful gift from your mom to remember her I hope that you were okay during all the resent storms I hope that you were this is a wonderful challenge this mouth I miss my mom a lot there are some really heart touching poems so far I have been reading them

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    1. We survived the storm just fine— thanks, Jessica. I can tell from your poem what a huge presence your mother was and continues to be in your heart.

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  4. How delightful, Michelle. Such graphic sentiments!

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  5. Thanks for sharing this, Michelle. I think it is lovely.

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  6. Your poem makes me feel like I was in that kitchen with you and your mom, Michelle. Beautiful. =)

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    1. It was a sunshiny room, Bridget. You would have fit right in!

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  7. I love your poem, how it's in the shape of a heart and captures a small moment close to your heart. Also love your suggestion to think of a small moment to write about your mother. This is a tough one.

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    1. Thank you, Margaret. Good luck finding a way in to this challenge. I have confidence you will!

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  8. A heart melt poem.
    And, a memory of a creative mother!
    Makes me wonder if she drew other things or just doodled names.
    Thank you so much for this lovely memory.

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    1. Thanks, Jan. I'm not going to say Mom never doodled pictures, but mostly she was a word doodler. Still is, actually. :)

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  9. Missed this yesterday, and it is one NOT to miss, Michelle. It is a memory of one of those small moments that does stay in one's heart, just as you showed.

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  10. This poem knocks me out! It's too wonderful for words.

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  11. Loved your poem, rich with imagery and heart! I took a bit of inspiration from yours to create mine, thanks!

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  12. Michelle, your concrete poem is a beautiful poem that preserves your love for your mother. The lines that caught my lasting impression are:
    and we were
    safe on that page,
    cast in ink,
    belonging to her forever.
    How often do we stop to honor our mothers in verse? Thank you for creating a safe haven for our voices to rise, Michelle. I'm off to write.

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    1. Thank you, Carol. I'm humbled to be entrusted with others' words and memories. Thanks for lending your voice to the mix!

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  13. How clever to bring this comes full circle - to the point of drawing. Lovely, Michelle.

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    1. Thank you, Kat, and what a lovely poem you left on the padlet, as well!

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