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Two Poems for the Moms

ByKelly Keller

In the wake of a no-doubt busy weekend and Mother’s Day in the middle of it, I wanted to pass along two of my favorite motherhood poems to you.

One of them is entitled “The Raincoat,” and recalls a moment of reflection from a grown woman realizing the efforts her own mother went to—efforts that you moms put in every day—without any recognition.

I never
asked her what she gave up to drive me,
or how her day was before this chore. Today,
at her age, I was driving myself home from yet
another spine appointment, singing along
to some maudlin but solid song on the radio,
and I saw a mom take her raincoat off
and give it to her young daughter when
a storm took over the afternoon.

Read the whole thing, from poet Ada Limón, here.

The second is a favorite from former US Poet Laureate Billy Collins, entitled “The Lanyard.” Here he sums up the extensive service that mothers put in, as well as their children’s earnest, but obviously insufficient, attempts to say thank you.

She nursed me in many a sick room,
lifted spoons of medicine to my lips,
laid cold face-cloths on my forehead,
and then led me out into the airy light

and taught me to walk and swim,
and I, in turn, presented her with a lanyard.
Here are thousands of meals, she said,
and here is clothing and a good education.
And here is your lanyard, I replied,
which I made with a little help from a counselor.

Read the whole poem here, and watch Billy read it here.

No matter what your mother’s day looked like yesterday, moms, know that your efforts are seen and known by the Lord of all, who rewards what is done in secret.

Kelly Keller
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