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mutington
Member

since 2000-11-29

Posts 132
New Jersey, USA

0 posted 2000-11-29 11:12 PM

MAMA'S SACRIFICE
----------------------------------------------------
Back when I was growing up
Our family was very poor
And I would watch my Mama cry
For a future she was unsure

It wasn't so bad till Papa died
Then Mama had to find work
Untaught, homely and overweight
Ridiculed with a laugh or smirk

But that didn't stop my Mama
She knew what she had to do
She took up sewing and tayloring
Just to get us through

It was the summer of my twelfth year
When the Carnival came to town
We wanted to go, but Mama said no
"No money for that," she frowned.

We had never seen the Carnival
It would be here only two weeks
Billy and I simply had to go
To see the clowns and silly freaks

Instead of playing, we gathered old bottles
Selling them back at the general store
Thinking if we had the money
Mama would let us go for sure

Then she started going out at night
While I took care of my brother
I peeked as she, came home so late
One night after another

Finally it was Saturday morning
I told Mama what we had done
She still said no, we could not go
As she left for errands to run

At first, we were so disappointed
Then Billy started to plead
I knew it was wrong to disobey Mama
But I weakened and finally agreed

The Carnival was so very exciting
With taffied apples and carmeled corn
The thrilling Ferris-Wheel ride
And the goofy clown tooting his horn

In the distance I saw a red tent
A sign read,"Carnival Freak Show"
I grabbed Billy's hand and pulled him along
That's where I wanted to go

We saw The Bearded Lady, Fire-Eater
And the World's Tallest Man
That's when I saw Mama
As Billy turned away and ran

She was sitting on a tiny stool
Up on the stage so high
As people whispered, laughed and joked
I began to sob and cry

Mama was the "Fat Lady"
With a big blue bow in her hair
And I heard the Reverand's wife say
"Oh my, what's she doing up there?"

Mama never knew we saw
The sacrifice that she made
I knew she did it because she loved us
I knew the indignities that she paid

mutington(Joyce)

Startime
Member Ascendant

since 2000-10-03

Posts 5918
Canada

1 posted 2000-11-29 11:18 PM

Oh Joyce, what an incredibly touching poem this is. Thank you so very much. It brought tears to my eyes as I came upon your surprise ending. Hugs, my friend.

Love I leave with you my friend whether it be in your life or of yet the essense of your dreams. [URL=http://path2riches.com]http://path2riches.com

dgvarner
Member Elite

since 2000-05-13

Posts 3552
High Springs, Florida

2 posted 2000-11-29 11:21 PM

wow..joyce ..this one stings....

very well written..what love for her children to sit and be ridiculed so that they can just get by..and to try her best to protect them from the ugliness of the world..

hugs, g

"so lift your heart with mine...the depth to which it grieves is the height to which it can celebrate!" -Lisa Hussey

pegasus111
Member Elite

since 2000-07-27

Posts 2219
ocala, fl, usa

3 posted 2000-11-29 11:21 PM

speechless..I feel like an eavesdropper inside your soul..

the woods are lovely, dark, and deep, but I have promises to keep, and many miles to go before I sleep...Frost

ethome
Member Patricius

since 2000-05-14

Posts 11858
New Brunswick Canada

4 posted 2000-11-30 06:48 AM

Hi Joyce remember me? It's been a long time since I conversed with you love the poem it's great! .... E Lewis True

[This message has been edited by ethome (edited 11-30-2000).]

Nan

Administrator

Member Seraphic

since 1999-05-20

Posts 21191
Cape Cod Massachusetts USA

5 posted 2000-11-30 07:26 AM

Welcome to Passions, Joyce... This is a great entree. Your insights and your wonderful expression of feelings will fit in nicely here... I look forward to reading more of your work... Check your email for a special greeting...

Poet deVine

Administrator

Member Seraphic

since 1999-05-26

Posts 22612
Hurricane Alley

6 posted 2000-11-30 08:15 AM

Wow! What a story! I loved the way this one read. Welcome to our family, I look forward to reading more from you.

VAS
Member Rara Avis

since 2000-11-16

Posts 7450
Oregon

7 posted 2000-11-30 09:04 AM

Welcome, Joyce! Good to see you here and what a powerful piece with which to introduce your talent and yourself! BRAVO!!!

jwesley
Member Rara Avis

since 2000-04-30

Posts 7563
Spring, Texas

8 posted 2000-11-30 09:08 AM

Joyce this was a treasure to read. Held me from the start. Welcome to Passions and what a way to arrive.

jwesley

mutington
Member

since 2000-11-29

Posts 132
New Jersey, USA

9 posted 2000-11-30 09:26 AM

*** THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH !!! ***

Your kind comments and warm welcomes have touched me deeply.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

mutington(Joyce)

kaile

Member Ascendant

since 2000-02-06

Posts 5146
singapore

10 posted 2000-12-13 11:56 AM

a belated welcome to passions...

and that was a heartfelt piece of yours...thanx for baring so much of yourself on your first post

shira
Member

since 2000-12-12

Posts 88
Hamburg, PA

11 posted 2000-12-13 12:48 PM

Thanks for sharing this nice poem. It is truly amazing the sacrifices that some people will make for the good of others, especially the ones made by a mother for her children. This was a nice expression of feeling.

-Shira

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