My Mother
a remembrance70 total reviews
Comment from Jeanie Mercer
The poem is starkly lovely. I don't know to what extent it is biographical, but it certainly has the ring of truth. What an important gift you gave to your mother, permission to die, and how fortunate for her that you had could call on your close experience with dying friends. It reminds me of a similar story a butcher at the grocery story (!) earnestly shared with me awhile back as he weighed out my meat. His mother had been holding on to life only because she didn't want to hurt her sons. When he arrived from out of town, he tenderly suggested that she let go and "go on to be with Daddy." And, peacefully, she did so. Then he turned angrily to his brothers and said, "Y'all have been here for a whole week--why didn't one of you SOBs tell her that!" God bless you for racing to your mother's side and ministering to her so tenderly and expertly. Best regards, Jeanie Mercer
reply by the author on 18-Apr-2010
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The poem is starkly lovely. I don't know to what extent it is biographical, but it certainly has the ring of truth. What an important gift you gave to your mother, permission to die, and how fortunate for her that you had could call on your close experience with dying friends. It reminds me of a similar story a butcher at the grocery story (!) earnestly shared with me awhile back as he weighed out my meat. His mother had been holding on to life only because she didn't want to hurt her sons. When he arrived from out of town, he tenderly suggested that she let go and "go on to be with Daddy." And, peacefully, she did so. Then he turned angrily to his brothers and said, "Y'all have been here for a whole week--why didn't one of you SOBs tell her that!" God bless you for racing to your mother's side and ministering to her so tenderly and expertly. Best regards, Jeanie Mercer
Comment Written 12-Apr-2010
reply by the author on 18-Apr-2010
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Yes, you caught exactly what I wanted to convey.
Comment from Charlene0513
To AlvinTEthington,
A contest entry which explains your part in the aiding of your mother's death.
My belief tells me that before our loved ones pass on they will wish to see those they are closest to
Then it is if God hears them say it's time and takes them "Home".
Very well written with a lot of passion.
Charlene
reply by the author on 18-Apr-2010
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To AlvinTEthington,
A contest entry which explains your part in the aiding of your mother's death.
My belief tells me that before our loved ones pass on they will wish to see those they are closest to
Then it is if God hears them say it's time and takes them "Home".
Very well written with a lot of passion.
Charlene
Comment Written 11-Apr-2010
reply by the author on 18-Apr-2010
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Thanks for a good review.
Comment from Harrisa
This poem showed a true mother's love for her child. She wanted to see her estranged son and wanted him present at the end. It also showed a son's deep love for his mother because he came when she called.
reply by the author on 11-Apr-2010
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This poem showed a true mother's love for her child. She wanted to see her estranged son and wanted him present at the end. It also showed a son's deep love for his mother because he came when she called.
Comment Written 11-Apr-2010
reply by the author on 11-Apr-2010
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Yes, that is true. It wasn't easy but I did it. Thanks for a great review.
Comment from Lena Borghi
This to me is a compelling narrative of a sad memory that so many people can relate to in one way or another. It definitely captures the reader. It flows well. I like the redemptive ending. Lena
reply by the author on 11-Apr-2010
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This to me is a compelling narrative of a sad memory that so many people can relate to in one way or another. It definitely captures the reader. It flows well. I like the redemptive ending. Lena
Comment Written 11-Apr-2010
reply by the author on 11-Apr-2010
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Thanks for a great review. I truly appreciate, especially the comments about th ending.
Comment from zlp22
Very good, I think some people need permission to die. You were with your mother when it was important to her. Its sad when family members made you leave because you were upsetting them, your mother is the only one who matters.
reply by the author on 11-Apr-2010
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Very good, I think some people need permission to die. You were with your mother when it was important to her. Its sad when family members made you leave because you were upsetting them, your mother is the only one who matters.
Comment Written 11-Apr-2010
reply by the author on 11-Apr-2010
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Yes, my father was senile the last six years of his life, and my mother was his primary caregiver. She need to rest. Thanks for a great review.
Comment from billyboy123
Excellent. Typical of what happens in so many families, mine too - right now my mother is dying - My brothers have been here 5 times in 10 years. They want money. They walk in and tell me what a lousy job I did caring for my parents for 10 years while they watched - have attentively - offering me no moral support. They will never get it. I've stopped trying. When my mother dies, I will make my peace with her, then call them and when they get there I'll be gone from their lives - forever. They are not even interested in the fact that I took care of their parents for ten years. While they did nothing.
You are right on with this poem. May your heart be comforted because you did the right thing and nobody else did.
billyboy
reply by the author on 11-Apr-2010
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Excellent. Typical of what happens in so many families, mine too - right now my mother is dying - My brothers have been here 5 times in 10 years. They want money. They walk in and tell me what a lousy job I did caring for my parents for 10 years while they watched - have attentively - offering me no moral support. They will never get it. I've stopped trying. When my mother dies, I will make my peace with her, then call them and when they get there I'll be gone from their lives - forever. They are not even interested in the fact that I took care of their parents for ten years. While they did nothing.
You are right on with this poem. May your heart be comforted because you did the right thing and nobody else did.
billyboy
Comment Written 11-Apr-2010
reply by the author on 11-Apr-2010
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Yes, there always seem to one person in the family who becomes th support of the person who is dying. Thanks for a great review.
Comment from MikiB
A very moving tribute to his mother. Very well written piece. The fighting between brother and sisters sounds like my mom's family. But it turned out the mother wanted him with her.
reply by the author on 11-Apr-2010
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A very moving tribute to his mother. Very well written piece. The fighting between brother and sisters sounds like my mom's family. But it turned out the mother wanted him with her.
Comment Written 11-Apr-2010
reply by the author on 11-Apr-2010
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Yes, and I was an obedient son, but it wasn't easy. Thanks for a grat review.
Comment from Begin Again
Alvin,
Families tug and push each other, constantly playing with our emotions. I am glad that you were able to remain focused on the person who counted...your mother. Very well written. Thank you for sharing.
Carol
reply by the author on 11-Apr-2010
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Alvin,
Families tug and push each other, constantly playing with our emotions. I am glad that you were able to remain focused on the person who counted...your mother. Very well written. Thank you for sharing.
Carol
Comment Written 11-Apr-2010
reply by the author on 11-Apr-2010
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I had to, or I would have gone insane. I knew what was important. Taanks for a great review.
Comment from Shirley B
You did an outstanding job with this free verse poem. I am glad you were with your mother when she passed away. Your words paint a picture of someone who felt like an outsider in his own family, butyour mother trusted you and leaned upon you because when she called upon you. You were there. Your poem also shows us no family is perfect, but the love of a mother overrides past hurts. Beautiful poem. Good luck in the contest, Shirley
reply by the author on 11-Apr-2010
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You did an outstanding job with this free verse poem. I am glad you were with your mother when she passed away. Your words paint a picture of someone who felt like an outsider in his own family, butyour mother trusted you and leaned upon you because when she called upon you. You were there. Your poem also shows us no family is perfect, but the love of a mother overrides past hurts. Beautiful poem. Good luck in the contest, Shirley
Comment Written 11-Apr-2010
reply by the author on 11-Apr-2010
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It actually is autobiographical. Thanks for a good review.
Comment from amel
A poignant poem. I love the way you crafted the words, Alvin. Great image and visual presentation for it. The lines flowed perfectly until the end of the poem. When I came to the last stanza:
She barely muttered
"Bring the family; I want to say goodbye."
.......
I told her it was all right to go home to God.
This really brought tears to my eyes. Outstanding, Alvin.
reply by the author on 11-Apr-2010
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A poignant poem. I love the way you crafted the words, Alvin. Great image and visual presentation for it. The lines flowed perfectly until the end of the poem. When I came to the last stanza:
She barely muttered
"Bring the family; I want to say goodbye."
.......
I told her it was all right to go home to God.
This really brought tears to my eyes. Outstanding, Alvin.
Comment Written 11-Apr-2010
reply by the author on 11-Apr-2010
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IF I can cause that kind of reaction in a reader, I have done well as a writer. Thanks for a great review.
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Yes, I clicked the five stars with a guilty feeling, Alvin. I hate I didn't have my six stars left. This situation is such a discomfort to me. :) amel
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It's very easy to change a review or rating, but you have to wait until next Sunday.
It's actually very easy to change the review or rating of a work at any time. I do it often on Sunday when I receive my allotment of four six stars reviews. Of course, each time I do that, I lose a six star rating for the week beginning on said Sunday.
Go to My Menu in the upper left hand corner of the screen. Scroll down to My Feedback and from the drop-down menu, select Reviews I Wrote. All the reviews you have written will come up, and you scroll down to the one you want to change. Click on Edit Review in the lower RIGHT hand screen of the review; you then can change the wording of the review or the rating.
Of course, I am not asking you to revise the review or the rating; I am just explaining how it can be done after the factâ??it's helped me correct many a mistake.
Thanks for a great review. I truly appreciate it..
Thanks for a great review. I truly appreciate it.
Thank you so much, Alvin. Thank you. I always felt there was a feeling of regret if I couldn't give the writer the right appreciation I would like to give him/her. Sometimes I gave six stars for her/his next work, even it was not appropriate, because his/her last work still lasted in my mind including the regret feeling. That was the way I overcome the feeling to the writer, but now thank you... I've found the solution. Again thank you. Love, amel
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I have tried to another writer. So I know sometimes it worked sometimes it didn't. I have to wait, probably. Anyway, thank you very much