Mother's Day (Thinking Of) Poem by JAMES T. ADAIR

THINKNG OF MOTHER'S DAY

This rainy Spring day
Mother's Day still weeks away
I think of her anyway
though I just saw her yesterday


I hadn't seen her for a long while
But when she sees me
she greets me with a soft smile
and she approaches me for a kiss


Lately this is her way and I notice this
She seems to long for that welcome kiss
And I gladly kiss her softly on the cheek
noticing these days she seems more fragile and weak


Though of ailments she hardly does speak
I feel her growing softer year by year
and lately week by week
So soft is the feeling of her cheek


I notice her eyes catch my gaze
Blue and hazel like mine
as they catch the sunshine's rays
though the A-frame's crystal front window glaze


She was once such a stunning pretty woman
in her early days, a Russian daughter of imagrants
He eyes contrasted with her hair dark brunettte
and a perfect hourglass sillouette


I saw her wedding photo with her veiled and in while lace
a radiant glow of beauty and hopefulness upon her face
But I know her for he wisdom, her intelligence and her grace
And her influence on me from her humble and knowing place


I recall the photo of her soft and angelic skin
and now see the devastation and decay of age
That has weathered her once beautiful glow
and has pushed it from center stage


To a place where we all must go and cannot erase
the small cracks and wrinkles upon her face
and fine checking and blotching of her fine skin
it hurts to see how much age has seeped in


But still my mother I see, beautiful to me
A woman who's impressed her heart upon me
and who fonder and fonder over time I have grown
So happy that of her I have known, for the love she has shown


She's my mother above all
I love her so much though I hardly say at all
Except for Mother's day and birthdays and once in a while
But This morning I recall her warm and pure smile


And lately I notice more just this
How she seems to treasure the greeting of my kiss
And I remember the smile on her face
and the thought lingers... and I don't dare this moment chase


Of aging, she's fighting bravely but losing the race
I can see the struggle written on soft wrinkled hands
as she prepares me a cup of coffee and cream
and I can see it in her eyes and upon her once perfect face

I love this woman though its still hard to say
As I know I've brought tears her way
and we don't talk about it much anymore
but I know even what she doesn't say and regret it more


I love my mother forever and a day
and try to shield her from my pain and sadness, which is my way
but she see's anyway and doesn't say
I think she tries to comfort me in with her kiss


And I remember her and always will
and in church for her yesterday I did silently pray
for God to watch over her and protect her in his way
because for me she always went out of her way


As she also did this day
and many times got up from her chair
to get something for me
thought I asked her to relax and sit and stay


Mothers are this way
They serve in so many ways, all their days
and the thought makes me sad
She's among the nicest mothers any has ever had


And I wish I could have given her more
to let her know how much she means
and how she is one I so adore
I miss her as I always did before


Her time her I know is growing dim
soon I'll lose her and also him
I can't imagine the sadness that day
when I must say goodbye and see them away


But I promise this
that I will try my best for her
and shield her from sadness at all cost
because whatever I had or must lose, I'll bear the loss


My mother loves me I know
and wish she too I could somehow show
and kiss her gently and just so..
so she can feel the love she did in me sow
before God calls to her and she must from this world finally to her rest go


Once a little shy Russian girl
so delicate and and frail, dark hair with curl
standing with her head down in a shy way
In an old photo I found of her one day


Now old and grey
but in my heart, young she will always stay
my mother, whose love for me I could never repay
Please God, protect her in your way


Shield her from pain and sadness, and put on me if you may
I pray for her this rainy day
as tears come again my way
and the Heavens seem to cry this April rainy day

Thinking of Mother's Day a month away
and her kiss which oneday I will miss

© James T. Adair