"Mother! - I write these lines,- as you well know-
For everything I have you did bestow
Upon me,- by God’s grace you have impressed
Fair gifts and talents plentiful and zest
For life, - gratuitous, free and generously
From your own being, like the fruitful tree
Of the strong woman told in Holy Writ,
That bloomed, so everyone would benefit.

Mother! - there is no need to eulogize!
But I will say that you made paradise
For us,- with so slim means you did impart
So many blessings in your children’s heart.-
Your warm affection like a gushing spring,-
Your strength like the Protector Angel’s wing;-
Forgetful of yourself, in constant care
Of us,- you made your children unaware
Of penury, but made us dance and laugh
So warm your tenderness, so deep your love!

Beyond all bounds your faith, your hope, your love!
Gifts unsurpassed in splendor from above!-.
Over my cradle you did gently bend,
In loving vigil, with caressing hand;
And many a lullaby and tune you sang
To which you made your babe participant
The babe took out a stake, was made a part
Of all the music of your glowing heart.-
seeping, and sinking in through every pore,
It traveled till it reached the inmost core.!

How long you prayed through many a fearful night
In catastrophe, disaster and war’s blight!
With deprivation so familiar-
Your presence was sweet comfort’s twinkling star-
Defeating anguish and adversity-
And like a lioness you braved the enemy.
Your golden voice rang out in fervent song
To Him to Whom all praise and song belong;.-
Women’s and children’s gentle Laureate
And Champion nonpareil of their estate.


Look down now mother dear of mine I pray,
This Mother’s Day and any other day,
Pray God His grace and mercy to bestow
On all the struggling mothers here below!
Be they committed to His loving care
And win His blessing’s laurels everywhere.



© Elizabeth Dandy


She was a living song - she was a poem