Thursday, May 10, 2018

Five for Friday: Celebrating Mom


Anders Adermark

Not all of us can do great things. 
But we can do small things with great love.

Although this quote has been widely misattributed to Mother Teresa, it certainly embodies motherhood, don't you think?

I'm quite sure I'm not the only one devoting today's blog post to Mother's Day. In fact, I predict I'm not the only one sharing "The Lanyard" by Billy Collins either. It's a popular favorite for good reason!

But first I wanted to mention how honored I am that Michelle Kogan is featuring one of my original mother-inspired poems at her blog. You'll find "Mother's Heart" along with four others from The Best of Today's Little Ditty 2016—poems by B.J. Lee, Heidi Mordhorst, Charles Waters, and Michelle, herself. She's done a wonderful job presenting each one with some backstory and a photograph. I hope you'll stop by and say hello to 13-year-old me with my beautiful mom!

Now where was I? Oh yes, Billy Collins. I think my mom will really like "The Lanyard." She'll appreciate its message, of course, but also its accessibility and humor. In the words of poet Stephen Dunn, "We seem to always know where we are in a Billy Collins poem, but not necessarily where he is going."


"The Lanyard" by Billy Collins 
(read by the poet)
 


Read the poem in its entirety HERE.
Explore teaching tips and support materials for this poem HERE.


I've made the kind of lanyard Collins talks about, though I'm not sure I've ever presented one to my mother. I have given her a number of potholders from my camp days, however. Does that count? Either way, it's the thought that matters.  Love you, Mom. xo

Watch a do-it-yourself video on how to start your own box stitch lanyard HERE.


Now since we're in DIY mode anyway, how about a Five for Friday celebration?

Today's theme is to write about a specific gift you have given to, or received from, your mother.

It's been a while since our last Five for Friday party, so for those who are new or would like a refresher, all you need to do is come up with five words (plus title if you wish) on today's theme.

Please don't think too hard about it! Off the top of your head is fine. Leave your 5-word ditty in the comments, or email it to TodaysLittleDitty (at) gmail (dot) com. I will move your contribution to the main body of the post.

I'll start us off. Hmmm... okay, here's one. (See how long that took me? Not long at all!) This is based on a Mother's Day poem I wrote for Laura Purdie Salas' cinquain challenge in 2014.


SOGGY KISSES

mommy waters me—
her flower

– Michelle Heidenrich Barnes

* * *

HEARTFELT ART

tenderly tied
by paint tubes.

– Michelle Kogan

* * *

LIFELINE

states away,
our daily visits

 – Linda Baie

* * *

MADE AT CAMP

Sloppy potholder
Neatly transmits love.

– Karen Edmisten

* * *

FOUND IN MOM'S NIGHT TABLE DRAWER

Fifty-year-old card
drawn by me.

– Buffy Silverman

* * *

LIKE MOTHER, LIKE DAUGHTER

Can't miss a
plant sale

– Tabatha Yeatts

* * *

FROM A PLASTIC LOOM

Potholder,
stretchy strips
hugging tightly

– Laura Purdie Salas

* * *

TRAIN RIDE TO SCOTLAND

Time together
one on one.

– Jama Rattigan
 
* * *

FLIGHT

Freedom to spread
my wings.

– Kay Jernigan McGriff

* * *

PLANTED VINE

Twists around
both our hearts.

– Margaret Simon

* * *

MOTHER’S KNITTING

Handmade sweaters
warm, comfort, love

– Dianne Moritz

* * *

Wedding pearls
love to celebrate

– Linda Mitchell

* * *

A GIFT FOR MOM

Popsicle-stick box
holds my love.

– Rosi Hollinbeck

 * * *

ANOTHER MOTHER'S DAY...

Another card-bouquet,
delivered late.

– Brenda Davis Harsham

* * *

Favorite poems shared lovingly together.

– Christie Wyman 

* * *

KNITTED BY HAND

sweater worn well
mamma-warm s t i l l

– Cory Corrado

* * *

homemade
cake chunks,
frosting soup...

– Donna JT Smith

* * *

GRANDCHILDREN

She met all three.

– Diane Mayr 

* * *

squishy hugs
limited by geography

– Bridget Magee

* * *

HER GIFT TO ME WAS MY GIFT TO HER

Vicariously lived:
a happy childhood.

– Mary Lee Hahn

* * *

MY MEME

bathing
grandbabies
with
tender
TLC

– Dani Burtsfield



Sharon Soberon



This month's DMC challenge from Julie Fogliano is to write a poem about what you see outside your window. If you missed last Friday's interview, you'll find it HERE. Off to a splendid start, this week's daily ditties included poems by Lana Wayne Koehler, Janice Scully, Michelle Kogan, and Jessica Bigi. Catherine Flynn is sharing her window poem today at Reading to the Core. Leave your window poem on our May 2018 padlet.



Happiness has landed at Jama's Alphabet Soup! Join Jama for a beautiful selection of bluebird poems and art, as well as this week's Poetry Friday roundup.

47 comments:

  1. I fondly remember this poem of yours Michelle–such a gorgeous moment you captured–I can picture it more vividly now seeing you and your mom in that endearing photo, and you were a flower that bloomed! Love the Billy Collins "The Lanyard," thanks, and Happy Mother's Day! xo
    Here's my "Five for Friday"

    HEARTFELT ART

    tenderly tied
    by paint tubes.

    Michelle Kogan

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ah, that lanyard that I did make, wonder what I did with it, not a gift as Billy Collins writes from his own world. Can we ever repay? My share from late in our relationship:
    Lifeline

    states away,
    our daily visits

    Sweetest post, Michelle!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Made at Camp

    Sloppy potholder
    Neatly transmits love.

    Michelle, like you, I knew I wouldn't be the only one featuring the unbeatable Billy Collins today. :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. I printed a copy of "The Lanyard" for my mom for mother's day, about ten or so years ago, along with a lanyard I made from gimp found leftover from my kiddos younger days. I found it along with other treasures when I cleaned out her night table drawer, after she died.

    Found In Mom's Night Table Drawer

    Fifty-year-old card
    drawn by me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Warms my heart to know she kept it in her nightstand, Buffy. It's a good place for treasures.

      Delete
  5. Hi M.! There are so many types of gifts, aren't there? I was thinking about traits we are gifted by our moms. Here are five words about one of mine:

    LIKE MOTHER, LIKE DAUGHTER

    Can't miss a
    plant sale

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love the lanyard--have heard Billy Collins read it several times, and it's hysterical every single time. Here's mine:

    From a Plastic Loom

    Potholder,
    stretchy strips
    hugging tightly

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I made those potholders too!

      Delete
    2. Now my granddaughters make them. That early way to create and give!

      Delete
    3. Nice to know we all kept that potholder loom company in business! Otherwise, Linda's granddaughters would be out of luck.

      Delete
  7. Love this post. Of course you had me at the teddy bear with the heart and that wonderful quote. And then -- Billy Collins! Never tire of that poem. Really enjoyed your heart shaped poem and the beautiful photo of you and your mom at Michelle's blog.

    Your prompt has me thinking about gifts from me that my mother kept -- potholders, a jewelry box, a plaster of Paris paperweight with marbles embedded in it.

    As Collins's poem states, it's impossible to repay or even describe the indebtedness to our mothers. Recently I've been thinking of something extra special she once gave me:

    TRAIN RIDE TO SCOTLAND

    Time together
    one on one.

    Happy Mother's Day! I sure miss mine . . . (5 years now).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I TOTALLY thought about you after choosing that teddy, Jama! :) More potholders—yay! But the train ride sounds like the best gift ever.

      Delete
  8. I was thinking about the intangible gifts my mother gave to me. Even though she hates to see me leave, she has never clung so tightly that I felt guilty for living my own life. She still cheers me on! I'm trying now to pass the gift on to my daughter.

    FLIGHT

    Freedom to spread
    my wings.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A beautiful gift indeed, Kay. I'm trying to pass it along to my children as well, but I never imagined how difficult it would be!

      Delete
  9. Lanyard is one of my favorite Billy Collins poems. I teach it as a dictionary poem. We find a word randomly in the dictionary to write from.
    I gave my mother a plant when I was in 8th grade. It's still living. (40+ years!)

    Planted Vine

    Twists around
    both our hearts.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A dictionary poem should be a DMC challenge! What a great idea. Loved reading about that twisting vine, Margaret. So special. <3

      Delete
  10. Thanks, Honey, I remember those days very well. And I still doodle your name every now and then. L❤️ve and Happy Mother’s Day to you, too! 😍😘 from Mom

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, well, Miranda's artwork beats lanyards and potholders anyday, though I guess I've had my moments. :D Love you! xo

      Delete
  11. ooops! I hit enter before the end of my message. What a lovely post and sweet pop-up collection of Mother's Day love. Sweet memory of soggy kisses.

    ReplyDelete
  12. A Gift for Mom
    Popsicle-stick box
    holds my love.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh yes! I remember making those too, Rosi! Just the right container for a child's love.

      Delete
  13. I love The Lanyard, so funny and heart-felt. Five from me, because this year I was as lame as ever. My poor stepmother and mother-in-law.

    Another Mother's Day...

    Another card-bouquet,
    delivered late.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alas, happens to all of us, I'm afraid. Fortunately mothers are born patient. :)

      Delete
  14. Favorite poems shared lovingly together.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well that IS a gift! Thanks for joining in, Christie. :)

      Delete
  15. Thank you Michelle for sharing these lovely mom-inspired poems.

    I still have this-
    .................

    knitted by hand
    sweater worn well
    mamma-warm s t i l l

    Cory

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oooh... sweater love is one of the best kinds of love! Thanks for joining in, Cory!

      Delete
  16. homemade
    cake chunks,
    frosting soup...

    At probably 13ish I baked my first cake to surprise mom on her birthday. It was memorable. Not good. Just memorable!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL. I'm sure it was, Donna. And probably "delicious" to your mom in sentiment, if not in taste!

      Delete
  17. Grandchildren

    She met all three.

    ReplyDelete
  18. For my 90 y/o mama whose hugs I still need, but don't get to experience often enough:

    squishy hugs
    limited by geography

    Thanks for compiling this Mama Love Fest, Michelle. Happy Mother's Day! =)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've been thinking about you, Bridget. Sending my own squishy virtual hugs!

      Delete
  19. I, too, made lanyards, though I'm not sure I ever gave them to mom.

    HER GIFT TO ME WAS MY GIFT TO HER
    Vicariously lived:
    a happy childhood.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I love this topic, Michelle! As I began writing a comment here, I soon realized I was composing a blog post, so I switched over to my blog and wrote this: http://doingtheworkthatmatters.com/2018/05/13/five-for-friday-celebrating-mom/

    My Meme
    bathing
    grandbabies
    with
    tender
    TLC

    ReplyDelete