My Mother Ruth

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    A simple poem in memory of my mother Ruth

    My Mother Ruth

     

    Decades ago when I was a mere youth

    I remember my Mother, her given name was Ruth

    A simple woman born of the dry Kansas plains       

    Always ready to sooth our many fears and our pains

    I was blessed with two sisters named Cindi and Pat

    One older, one younger living in a two story flat 

      Our father was a kind man who loved Ruth above all

    He worked hard and drank a bit as I often recall

    We lived from payday to payday, father’s job always in question

    We felt lucky all the same, always reminded of the great depression

    Many years would go by before I would come to fully realize

    The sacrifices that my Mother made so my dreams might crystallize

    She passed from this earth before I could thank her for caring

    Too busy was I, too caught up in life and corporate profit sharing

       Now as my life nears its end I think back to those wonderful years

    I see her smiling face as she wipes away childhood tears

    I reach out to touch her as if to somehow make amends

          But the vision fades from view and the moment quickly ends

    Lessons learned in this life are many and hard to accept

    Ruth is 30 years gone and so many times for her I’ve wept

     

    ©Copyright Charlie Gragg July 23, 2010                       

     

     

     

     

     

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    gmcookie commented on My Mother Ruth

    10-04-2010

    Hampton, Never underestimate the strength of these women of the Great Plains. Life never seemed to treat them right, yet they never failed to give of themselves until they were used up and laid beneath the flat sod and grey winter skies of the Great Plains. My Grandma was one of them. Some day I will get up the nerve to write about her. But she was so extraordinary that it will be a daunting task. I do mention her mother (Great Grandma Rae) whose father homesteaded the land Liberal Kansas is built on. Of course, Liberal was pretty much the geographic center of the Great Dustbowl: http://www.originalpoetry.com/cottonwoods Your poem inspires, me my friend.

    Hampton

    10/04/2010

    Thanks and here's to the women of the plains and simpler times.

    Olan01 commented on My Mother Ruth

    09-16-2010

    What a beautiful elegy to your mother. I, too, have lost a mother all too soon to bare. My sobs could be heard for miles and my pain even further felt. I, too, have glimpse her since, but like you the vision fades far too soon. Dwell in love, peace and freedom, Olan

    Hampton

    09/16/2010

    Thank you for your sensitive and thoughtful comments.

    rsalassi commented on My Mother Ruth

    08-22-2010

    I just read a lovely poem by Merlin about her mom that reminded me of this poem about your own mom. After re-reading this , I think the two of you have got me thinking in another direction. Thanks.

    Hampton

    08/25/2010

    You are welcome Richard.

    jademelissa74 commented on My Mother Ruth

    08-10-2010

    Simply beautiful Charlie! Such a wonderful tribute to your lovely mother. Such memories are medicinal and magical. I have really enjoyed this hearfelt poem of yours. Thank you for sharing.

    Hampton

    08/10/2010

    Thank you very much. Your comments are always appreciated.

    rsalassi commented on My Mother Ruth

    08-07-2010

    I wept, too, as I read this and thought of my own mother. I daresay all who read this will feel the same. Such is the strength of the American fabric. Excellent!

    Hampton

    08/07/2010

    Thank you Richard

    If I feel physically as if the top of my head were taken off, I know that is poetry.

    Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) American poet.

    Hampton’s Poems (111)

    Title Comments
    Title Comments
    Searching 5
    The Poetess 14
    Nonsense 12
    Solitude 18
    Lame Limericks 14
    Message to Papa 15
    Young Jimmy O’Fallon 11
    The Computer From Hell 18
    Life Ain’t for Sissies 16
    The Mind In Motion 13
    The Game of Poetry 9
    Silence 55
    WordSlinger 19
    Holiday Thoughts 12
    Sweet Mary 18
    From White to Grey to Black 19
    The Reckoning 12
    And All of That Jazz 16
    Today 25
    No Offense, Just My Opinion 16
    Lucky 10
    You’re Only as Old as You Feel 13
    Saturday Night 13
    Political Change? 14
    The Female Gender 17
    I’m In Charge Here, Aren’t I? ( With Epilogue) 10
    I’m In Charge Here, Aren’t I? 7
    Remembering 11
    This Web We Weave 13
    The End 16
    The Day the Clouds Cried 16
    The Path of Life 12
    My Mother Ruth 12
    Forever–ast
    er
    11
    Humanities Challenge 14
    A Cowboy's Perspective 12
    July in Buda Texas 14
    The OP Poets Parade 20
    The Chatelaine 12
    Shot Through the Heart 17
    Poetry and Fine Wine 18
    The Man What Am 10
    The Final Beat of My Heart 16
    The Rainbow of Poets 19
    A Cowboy's Lament 13
    Of This World I am Not 17
    The Wee People 19
    An Evening at an Irish Pub 15
    The Scent of Love 14
    Fresh News from Buda Texas 16
    Memories of Times Past 13
    The Dance of the Poets 20
    The Confession 14
    Road to Obscurity 18
    Barbara 14
    Shadows 15
    Prescience 17
    Words That Bind 54
    Wondering 26
    New Year News from Buda Texas 13
    We Are All Witnesses 16
    Christmas 25
    A Cowboy’s Prayer 29
    The 9 ers 24
    Love Defined 27
    Tis a Time to Give Thanks 21
    More News From Buda Texas 26
    Choices 26
    News from Buda, Texas 21
    In Search of God 21
    Writers of Poems (WOPs) 26
    Out of the Darkness 15
    Visions from Within the Mist 18
    Baseball 12
    The Night Stalker 16
    The Man I Presume to be Buck 16
    The Sounds of Time 17
    The Little Man in the Green Hat 18
    Blah Blah Blah 14
    One Two Three 13
    Carpe Viam 11
    Love in the Afternoon 13
    The Moth 14
    Lost & Dungeons of the Mind 11
    The Creative Process 19
    The Truth and the Tribe 19
    The Long Wait. 19
    Feathers 26
    The Arrow 14
    Take Two Cialis and Call Me in the Morning 26
    Ghostly Images 16
    Friends 11
    Angels Without Wings 20
    IN MY OWN WORDS 13
    The Rider 16
    Pride and Shame 18
    The Winning Poet is.... 21
    Memories 13
    Politicians 67
    Your Mailbox Is Empty 18
    God's Visit 17
    Poets and Poems 20
    Love Thy Neighbor 13
    Renewal 8
    The Roar of Silence 17
    Blessed Are These Days 4
    Time and Space 5
    Life's Journey 8
    Gift To The Fallen 16
    Hunger 21
    The Antique Shop 30