2. Dedication
When I heard that I had to
dedicate this dedication book
to someone, and had to pick
poems of or about them, I
knew right away who my
dedication would be to: My
mother. My mother, the one
who has loved and provided
for me since I was born, and
has always been there for
me. She’s my best friend, and
my hope is that, in the poems
I have in this book, she will
realize how very thankful I
am for her and how much I
love her.
3. I LOVE YOU, MOTHER
"I love you, mother," said little John.
Then, forgetting his work, his cap went on,
And he was off to the garden swing,
And left her the water and wood to bring.
"I love you, mother," said rosy Nell—
"I love you more than tongue can tell."
But she teased and pouted full half the day
Till her mother was glad when she went to play.
"I love you, mother," said little Fan;
"To-day I'll help you all I can;
How glad I am that school doesn't keep."
So she rocked the baby till it fell asleep.
Then slipping softly she took the broom
And swept the floor and dusted the room.
Busy and happy all the day was she,
Helpful and cheerful as a child should be.
"I love you, mother," again they said,
Three little children going to bed.
How do you think that mother guessed
Which of them really loved her best? —JOY ALLISON.
4. “I Love You, Mother” is a poem that was published in the year of 1898 by a woman named Joy
Allison. This poem focuses on three young children that tell their mother they love her, but do
their actions say the same? The first child is little John who, although he says he loves his
mom, he forgets about his chores and helping his mother, leaving all the work for her to
complete herself.
The next child to tell her mother that she loves her is Nell. Although Nell remembers to do her
chores before going off to play, she complains and whines about doing them the whole
time, making her mother relieved when she finally did go play.
Finally, along comes little Fan. Not only does she love her mother, but she also shows it with
her actions. Not only did she help her mom with all that needed done, but she also went
about it happily, and without complaint. When it comes time for the three children to head off
to bed, they tell their mother once more how much they love her. Although I’m sure she didn’t
doubt that they loved her, but it was obvious to her which child actually loved her most.
In this beautiful “a-a-b-b” structured poem, the writer is trying to get one simple point across.
We can say that we love our parents all we want, but our actions speak louder than our words.
Are we showing them that we love them in every way possible? If I were to guess on the
attitude of the writer in this poem, I would say she could possibly have written these words
out of frustration. She might have written this after a day of going through a very similar
situation, or possibly even witnessing something along these lines. A mother not only wants to
be told that they’re loved, but they want to be shown that as well. What are we doing to show
our mothers that we love them?
5. Here’s the thing about me: I am not a morning person.
However, once I am up, I am glad I am, because I feel
Sleepyhead so much more self-worth. The problem is getting up. If
“Get out of head, Sleepyhead I have to go to work in the morning, I will force myself
It’s time to start the day!” out of bed, but if I have a free morning, you might as
My stubborn mother exclaims well forget it! However, good old mom never fails to
In the loudest possible way. give me a hard time about sleeping in. While I’m still
“You’re burning daylight! working on getting up earlier, this is one of those
Time to help me clean!” simple things that I want to thank my mom for. But
She’ll normally say. rather than mentioning it in passing, I decided to
center an entire poem around it. While my poetic
I moan, I groan, I roll over skills and extremely limited, I conveyed it in the best
I try to block out her voice way I knew possible.
It’s not long before I realize Mom, I know it’s an understatement to say that I am a
I simply have no choice. pain to wake up in the morning, but I want to thank
you for taking the time to do so. While I should have
I slowly get up, I reluctantly start enough will-power to do so myself, it’s obvious that I
On the things I need to do. still struggle in that area. I know it becomes frustrating
Not long into the day for you, but by you taking time out of your schedule to
I smile and say drag my lazy bones out of bed, I know that you care.
“Thanks for the wake-up call, Mom Through the simple things, you are teaching me to
I love you!” become a better person, a harder worker, and even a
-Olivia McLeod better wife someday in the future. Thank you for the
little things you do, Mom!
6. Mother o’ Mine
If I were hanged on the highest If I were drowned in the deepest If I were damned of body
hill, sea, and soul,
Mother o’ mine, O mother o’ Mother o’ mine, O mother o’ I know whose prayers
mine mine would make me whole,
I know whose love would follow I know whose tears would come Mother o’ mine,
me still, down to me, 0 mother o’ mine!
Mother o’ mine, O mother o’ Mother o’ mine, O mother o’
mine! mine! -Rudyard Kipling
Mother o’ Mine is a short poem that was written by Rudyard Kipling in 1891. This poem is a very simple
poem that expresses how deep Kipling believes his mother’s love for him. It’s quite obvious by reading it just
how close of a relationship he has with his mother. While he addresses this poem towards her, I sincerely
believe that that is how we should all feel about our mothers. More importantly, our mothers should agree
with every line that is written in this “a-b-a-b” structured classic.
“If I were drowned in the deepest sea/I know whose tears would come down to me”. Would my mother cry
if something were to happen to me? I should hope she would! No one wants their mother to be indifferent
about their well-being. There’s no love like a mother’s love. But in order to achieve a close relationship with
your mother, so as to ensure that she is not relieved when you are not around, she needs to be treated right,
and know she is appreciated and loved.
I am inclined to think that Kipling covered all those areas with his mother, which brings me to what I think is
the main idea of this poem: Don’t let your mother go unappreciated! Show her love, and she’ll give you an
unconditional love in return. This is why I believe that the tone that Kipling sets in this poem is one of
confidence. He most certainly hasn’t taken his mother for granted, and as a result he has no doubt that she
will be there for him no matter what. Never giving up on him, never stop loving him, never stop having his
back. This is the kind of relationship that I want to have with my mother, and I am working at it with every
passing day.
7. This Lazy Beast
The lazy beast inside me
Comes home from work and sighs
She wants nothing but to lay around
As the rest of the day flies by.
Not worried about her messy room
Or her schoolwork needing done.
This lazy beast simply wants
To lay out in the sun.
Out comes malicious Mother
And stabs my lazy beast
Awakening a spirit inside me
The spirit I like the least!
Mother tells me to get up
There’s so much that needs done
My lazy beast has lost this fight;
My Mother, she has won.
I am so thankful for Mother So listen to this spirit
For she helps me to see And your lazy beast ignore;
The harder I work all day long For it’s the spirit of hard work
The happier I will be! That shapes your character more! -Olivia McLeod
8. I chose to write this poem simply to give a simple life lesson mixed with a little
humor. Upon writing this with my mother in mind, I chose to hit on something that
I believe every teenager deals with: Laziness. While it’s easy to lie around, watch
TV, and eat chips all day, at the end of the day, you will feel a sense of emptiness
inside you. That emptiness is due to the fact that you feel you have no self-worth;
like you have no purpose in this life. I speak from experience. I also speak from
experience when I say this: That feeling will lessen the harder you work. If you are
up and about getting things done, and lightening someone else’s load, you may be
tired by the end of the day, but I guarantee you will be happier, and have a better
sense of self.
Why did I choose to address other teens when I wrote this for my mother? The
answer is very simple: My mother taught me that life lesson, and I have no doubt
that she is proud of me for grasping that concept. I try my best to put it to action as
well. I’m sure every good, hard-working mother has tried to pass this truth on to
their children as well, and we would be wise to heed to their instruction.
9. My Mother
Who fed me from her gentle breast,
And hushed me in her arms to rest,
And on my cheek sweet kisses prest?
My Mother.
When pain and sickness made me cry,
Who gazed upon my heavy eye,
And wept, for fear that I should die?
My Mother.
Who dressed my doll in clothes so gay,
And fondly taught me how to play,
And minded all I had to say?
My Mother.
Who ran to help me when I fell,
And would some pretty story tell,
Or kiss the place to make it well?
My Mother.
And can I ever cease to be
Affectionate and kind to thee,
Who was so very kind to me?
My Mother.
-Anne Taylor
10. I can think of no better title than the one proclaimed right here. In “My Mother”, Anne
Taylor chooses to write about all that her mother has done for and been to her, from birth
until present. The extraordinary “a-a-a-b” rhyme scheme in this poem asks a question in
every stanza, and is answered by the simple two words “My Mother”. Rather than directing
all of her writing towards her mom, the speaker and author, who is one and the same, aims
her first three questions towards none other than the reader. Although some may argue
otherwise, my belief is that Taylor’s intention for this poem is to make her readers think.
What is it that she is trying to make us think about? Most of us have good family situations;
that includes having a mother that loves us and takes care of us. Have we ever thought
about all that they have done for us? Have we ever stopped, just for a moment, and
considered all the patience and sacrifice it took for them to raise us? If so, have we ever
thanked them? Sure, thanking someone verbally is great and all, but what about thanking
them with our actions?
In the last stanza, the author finally directs her question towards the object of the poem:
Her mother. In it, she asks her mother how she could ever be anything other than kind and
affectionate towards her mother, due to the fact that her mother was so kind to her. After
reading and thinking about that stanza a couple of times, a convicting thought struck me. As
I’m sure everyone has at some point in their life, there have been times that I have gotten
smart or exasperated with my mother. But in this poem, Taylor is saying that there’s no way
she could ever be anything but kind to the woman who raised her and loved her! So how
can I be anything but kind and caring towards my beloved mother? It’s amazing how a
simple poem can change one’s perspective and change of thinking in just one question.
11. Much like Anne Taylor’s poem “My Mother”, I wrote
Mom this poem with the intention of describing how my
When I took my baby steps mother has always been there for me from the time
She was by my side I was an infant, and no matter where I am in the
When I ditched the training wheels world, she’ll always be there supporting me, loving
She cheered my entire ride. me, and caring for me. That’s the thing about
mothers. Ninety-nine percent of them love their
On my first day of high school children unconditionally, and absolutely nothing can
She took pictures galore! weaken their love for their child. Yes, they get
And, despite my complaints and protests frustrated with them at times, yes their kids
She dropped me off at the door. disappoint them. But that never takes away from
how much they love them!
During my first heartbreak The reason why I wrote this poem for my mother is
She never asked or pried because, and I may be wrong about this, I don’t
Just held me close and stroked my hair believe that she realized how much she really does
As I laid there and cried. for me. It’s just second nature for her to provide for
me, comfort me, care for me, and instruct me in
Through good times and the bad what is right and what is wrong. So, once again, I
She’s here, and here she’ll stay. want to thank her for her sacrifice, for all the years
My mother means the world to me that she has taken care of me without any thought
I thank God for her every day! of her own needs. It never ceases to amaze me how
-Olivia McLeod very selfless she is, and how very selfish I can be!
Thank you, Mom.
12. Rock Me to Sleep Over my heart, in the days that are flown,
Backward, turn backward, O Time, in your flight, No love like mother-love ever has shone;
Make me a child again just for tonight! No other worship abides and endures,—
Mother, come back from the echoless shore, Faithful, unselfish, and patient like yours:
Take me again to your heart as of yore; None like a mother can charm away pain
Kiss from my forehead the furrows of care, From the sick soul and the world-weary brain.
Smooth the few silver threads out of my hair; Slumber’s soft calms o’er my heavy lids creep;—
Over my slumbers your loving watch keep;— Rock me to sleep, mother, – rock me to sleep!
Rock me to sleep, mother, – rock me to sleep!
Come, let your brown hair, just lighted with gold,
Backward, flow backward, O tide of the years! Fall on your shoulders again as of old;
I am so weary of toil and of tears,— Let it drop over my forehead tonight,
Toil without recompense, tears all in vain,— Shading my faint eyes away from the light;
Take them, and give me my childhood again! For with its sunny-edged shadows once more
I have grown weary of dust and decay,— Haply will throng the sweet visions of yore;
Weary of flinging my soul-wealth away; Lovingly, softly, its bright billows sweep;—
Weary of sowing for others to reap;— Rock me to sleep, mother, – rock me to sleep!
Rock me to sleep, mother – rock me to sleep!
Mother, dear mother, the years have been long
Tired of the hollow, the base, the untrue, Since I last listened your lullaby song:
Mother, O mother, my heart calls for you! Sing, then, and unto my soul it shall seem
Many a summer the grass has grown green, Womanhood’s years have been only a dream.
Blossomed and faded, our faces between: Clasped to your heart in a loving embrace,
Yet, with strong yearning and passionate pain, With your light lashes just sweeping my face,
Long I tonight for your presence again. Never hereafter to wake or to weep;—
Come from the silence so long and so deep;— Rock me to sleep, mother, – rock me to sleep!
Rock me to sleep, mother, – rock me to sleep! -Elizabeth Akers Allen
13. Elizabeth Akers Allen is not only the author of this poem, but also the speaker
in the poem. “Rock Me To Sleep” is being addressed to Allen’s mother. Hints
such as the lines “Mother, come back from the echoless shores” and “Long I
tonight for your presence again” lead me to believe that her mother is, in
fact, in Heaven.
In this poem, the speaker is a hurting soul. She is a grown woman who has
gone through much heartache and pain, and is longing for her younger days.
The days when her mother made everything right simply with the singing of a
lullaby, or rocking her to sleep. It is apparent, in reading this, that Allen had a
very special bond with her mother. However, although it does not say in the
poem, I can’t help but wonder: Does the speaker have any regrets? Could she
have maybe treated her mother better while she was still here on this earth?
There’s a good possibility that that may be true.
Mother, I chose this poem to add into my dedication book to you for one
simple reason: I don’t want to have any regrets. I want to tell you now, while I
still have a chance, how very much I love you and don’t know what I would do
if something were to happen to you. God forbid that anything ever would, but I
want you to know that I one hundred percent agree with the speaker in this
poem when she says “No love like mother-love ever has
shone//Faithful, unselfish, and patient like yours”. You are all those things and
so much more. I hope to never take you for granted. I want you to know that
no matter where life takes me as I transform from young lady to woman, you
will always hold a special place in my heart, and I love you so much.
14. A Mother’s Love
As steady as a rain fall This poem was all about similes. What could I use to
On a drowsy day compare a mother’s love? Nothing comes even
As gentle as rustling leaves remotely close, yet I had to try. While in the process
As their trees subtly sway. of writing this, I asked myself one question: What
words describe my mother? Dozens of revering
As frequent as a sunrise words flooded into my mind, but all seemed
When birds faintly chirp their song inadequate. What words describe my mother’s love?
And as beautiful as spring time Still difficult to describe in my limited
After waiting all winter long. vocabulary, but I tried my best.
Steady, gentle, frequent, beautiful, comforting:
As comforting as an angel these are the words I chose to use. Another word I
Is my mother’s love to me failed to use is limitless. No matter what mistakes I
She helps me to become make, no matter how many times I let her down, my
All God wants me to be. mother’s love for me will never fade away. Not
-Olivia McLeod because I’m anything great, but because she is. My
mom is the kindest, funniest, most forgiving woman
I know, and no words found in the dictionary can
describe her unconditional love.
Mom, thank you for loving me no matter what I do
to hurt you and disappoint you. I would be in idiot to
not want to be like you someday, and I hope that
someday I will be able to love with the kind of love
you hold in your heart. I love you!
15. Mother Of Mine
How do I tell you, from this daughter
Oh mother of mine, who couldn't have worked
harder
To make my life, as best as could be
How much your loved, for loving me
Things you wanted, so many times
You put aside, to help me and mine
Even when I was growing up
A back you never turned, a door you never
shut
How do I tell you, how much this means
Oh mother of mine, who always beams
With a loving heart, with open arms
Caring for all, with all your charms
You made life, so very good
For me you did, all you could
You cared for me, through all bad times
Your loved so much, oh mother of mine
-Betty Halverson
16. Out of all the poems I have chosen, this one best describes my mother. When Betty
Halverson put pen to paper and wrote this “a-a-b-b” structured masterpiece, her theme
was clear. With the author as the speaker, and with her mother as the addressee, it’s not
very difficult to figure out what she is trying to convey. In a nutshell, Halverson is telling
her mother that all her hard work has not gone unnoticed, her sacrifice not taken for
granted. She loves her mother, and is thankful for everything she has done for her.
“Mother of Mine” does not contain any type of symbolism, and why should it? What can
one compare to the unconditional love and sacrifice of a mother? The answer is obvious:
Nothing! The saying “There is no love like a Mother’s love” is so true. Halverson has
captured that truth and, in the best way possible, puts it in writing. Rather than
symbolism, she uses words such as “charm” and “loving heart” to describe her mother,
and all that she is.
I love this poem in its entirety, but if I had to pick a favorite line or lines, it would be this:
“Things you wanted, so many times/You put aside, to help me and mine”. That’s
something we often fail to think about. We have so many needs, so many wants, but so
do our mothers! However, instead of whining and demanding what they want, our moms
lay aside their desires in order to fulfill ours. The best definition of love that I’ve ever
found is this: “The willing, sacrificial giving of oneself for the benefit of others, without
thought of return”. Oh, how that describes so many mothers, including mine! Halverson
surely dis her mom justice when writing this poem, which is why I chose this for you,
Mom. This poem describes you so explicitly, that I can think of no better way to say it. I
love you, Mom!
17. I Could Have
I take you for granted
More often than not;
Don’t take it personally!
You see I don’t realize
How blessed I am
That God gave you to me.
I could have been born
To a teenage girl
Who couldn’t provide for her child.
I could be in
Some foster care
With a heart that’s bitter and wild.
When you knew I was in you
You could've ended my life.
I couldn't have taken
My first breath
And someday become a wife.
But I was born to you;
A mother loving, patient, and kind
I know I don't tell you nearly enough
That you're the best mom one will find! -Olivia McLeod
18. Mom, by now I’m sure you have noticed a theme in these poems, and
it is that of thankfulness. When I began writing this final poem, I
thought of where I could be, who I could’ve been born to, or if I
would even be alive if it weren’t for you. As I pondered this, tears
started to form in my eyes, but they were quickly replaced by an
overwhelming gratitude that God blessed me by making you to be my
mom. I know it’s very cliché, but you’re the best mom one can ask for.
Out of all the women in the world, I have the best one in the world,
and no one is paying me to say that; I sincerely believe that with all
my heart. How does one put into words an unspeakable thankfulness
and love, when every word in the dictionary falls so short, seems so
inadequate.
If there was one thing I could tell others my age and younger, it would
be this: Don’t take your mother for granted! You say you love her,
now show her you love her! Actions speak so much louder than
words, so help her out, write her letters, give her hugs, do anything
that crosses your mind that you think shows her how much you love
her. And, as I so often try my best to do, tell her you love her every
chance you get, and thank her for all that she does!
19. While writing these explications and poems, I started to develop a new appreciation for poetry.
Before this unit in Creative Writing, I cared nothing for poems, and found them hard to
understand and difficult to follow. But I’ve realized that sometimes poetry can get a point across
that stories cannot. So much thought and study has gone into every line of a poem, therefore
it’s not the easiest job on the planet either. Though I never thought I would say this a little over
a month ago, I have to admit that I enjoyed this poetry unit, and learned a lot in making this
dedication book.
I Love You, Mother Bibliography Mother of Mine
Author: Joy Allison Author: Betty Halverson
Page Title: The Baldwin Project Page Title: Poem Hunter
Company: Yesterday’s Classics Company: PoemHunter.com
URL: http://www.mainlesson.com/display.php URL: http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/mo
?author=skinner&book=verse1&story=love ther-of-mine/
Mother o’ Mine Rock Me to Sleep, Mother
Author: Rudyard Kipling Author: Elizabeth Akers Allen
Page Title: About.com Page Title: Poetry Foundation
Company: New York Times Company Company: Poetry Magazine
URL: http://poetry.about.com/library/weekly/ URL: http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem
blkiplingmother.htm /182732
My Mother
Author: Anne Taylor
Page Title: Mothers.net
Company: Australian Media Pty Ltd
URL: http://www.mothers.net/mymother2.htm
