Mother’s Day
As we approach that day again, this is an alternative view …
Mother’s Day
We are surrounded by them –
we are force-fed them
by a blinkered, unthinking media
hell-bent on filthy lucre:
pink and fluffy asinine clichés,
candy-floss sentiments,
the disposable, multi-use phrases
that bedeck cards and gifts.
Like Christmas, there is that
insidious pressure to conform,
unquestioningly obey the ritual;
and we put her on a pedestal,
to be ‘the happy family’!
What if pink is the wrong colour
– dark grey the cruel truth –
and the candy-floss dissolved,
long ago, into a soggy, sickly,
unpalatable mess?
What if she was the source of
constant pain, emotional damage
the ongoing battle with insanity/sanity.
What if she manipulated, triangulated,
got drunk on sympathy?
What if she wasn’t caring?
What if she wasn’t my best friend?
What thought do you all spare
for those who don’t have
“the best mum in the world”?
© Elfstone 2/3/16
(I very, very rarely alter/edit a poem but, for some reason that I can’t understand, I suddenly felt that this one needed to be re-worked. if you are interested, the first version was posted here a year ago under the title “The Best”.)
Excellently written – so tight with wonderful phrasing, economy of language and just ‘the right words’. I think you will find there are many who feel this way, and if not about a mother, perhaps a father. Too many glorious lines to mention. Loved it!
In friendship
Kim x
Very many thanks for your kind words Kat. It was so unusual to feel the need to go back to a poem and edit it to that extent that I wasn’t sure about posting it.
“I think you will find there are many who feel this way” – indeed, I now realise that I am not alone and that in itself is a strange kind of comfort.
Hope all is well with you. Elfstone
Know what you mean Elf, but I would like to think that there are more good one’s than bad. Its a funny old world…
gerry x
I hope you are right Gerry, I truly do. Thanks for reading and leaving a comment 🙂 Elfstone
As always there is another side to the coin.
But most of us are blessed that, that coin came down on the right side for us.
Indeed if the coin is on the right side for you, you are lucky. Thanks for leaving a comment. Elfstone
“What if she was the source of
constant pain, emotional damage
the ongoing battle with insanity/sanity.
What if she manipulated, triangulated,
got drunk on sympathy?
What if she wasn’t caring?
What if she wasn’t my best friend?”
Sums my mother up almost to perfection well written mate. enjoyed
Oh I am so sorry. This poem must be painful for you to read. I’m grateful to you for leaving a comment despite that. Elfstone
No Probs Elfstone I let go of the past a long time ago. After all if it wasn’t for her (warts an’ all) I wouldn’t be here. 🙂
I like the strong to the point message here, asking nothing of sympathy simply questioning why all mothers are portrayed as virtual angels in life’s sugar coating, when many are nothing more than mothers in name only. Sue.
Yes that’s it. I long ago realised that sympathy was non-existent. All I ask is understanding. My thanks Sweetwater. Elfstone