My Mama And Her Mama Before Her

How to Join	Member's Area	Private Library	Search	Sanctuary		Login
Main Forums	Discussion	Tech Talk	Mature Content	Archives	A home without a wall, Our haven without ends, A circle we all call Our Family of Friends!

Mysteria

Member Laureate

since 2001-03-07

Posts 18328
British Columbia, Canada

0 posted 2002-05-11 09:47 PM

~* My Mama, And Her Mama Before Her *~

Papa had died one day, just stopped.
Two workers brought him back from the fields,
cotton still stuck under his nails,
and they said the Lord took him,
he's free now, praise the Lord!
I heard mama cry, then she whispered
that she wished the Lord had taken her too.
I was sure sure glad he didn't.

I guess my Mama, and her Mama before her
worked them fields of prickles and pain.
My Mama worked the berry vines,
or picked tomatoes and we all
laughed when we saw her weathered black hands
turn red, 'cause she never told us
it was blood and not berry juice.

She done woke us long before birds
warbled anything sweet every morning,
and on empty bellies we straggled
along behind her headed
to them fields of pain
where berries were breakfast.
Hurry she'd always whisper,
'fore someone comes and sees ya.

I reckon she wore the same dress,
shoes, and kerchief on her head
saving herself from the sun’s stroke
day in and day out, night in, night out.
From farm to farm she carried the
day's dirt of her labour to that hayloft.

Ah I loved the nights.
Mama sung to us and others joined in.
They sung songs of our roots, our home,
remindin us to never forget we was
after all black and be proud of it.
We learned new songs of freedom.
Oh, that was gonna be a wonderful new day.

From farm to forest, we followed her,
little sojourners, working wherever Mama
said the food of survival grew,
all the while hoping someone would
take us in so we didn’t have to walk no more.
When it rained heavy we got to stay
in one place sometimes two or three days,
them was the closest times I felt.

Well honey, now I’m free yes,
but it ain’t no different really,
‘cept there is a little more food,
for more work and discomfort.
I still love to sing to my childrens
all the songs my Mama done taught me.
I suppose they will be singin them
to their childrens they love too just
like my Mama did, and her Mama before her.

~*~

I mean no disrespect with the english used in this poem,
as I was only trying to capture the era it might have taken place in.

photo: personal

We should spend less time worrying about when our life is going to end and more on when it's going to start!

[This message has been edited by Mysteria (05-11-2002 11:05 PM).]

Mistletoe Angel

Member Empyrean

since 2000-12-17

Posts 32816
Portland, Oregon

1 posted 2002-05-11 09:53 PM

(BIG HUGGGGSSSSSSS) Oh Sharon, this is wonderful, I LOVE IT, this made me feel as though I was down in the south during these years and watching black children hug their moms close with love and comfort! (sigh) I think this is just fine, for I know you would never mean any harm to anyone, you have such a loving heart and you always portray many views of life with respect and love! (sigh) We all wish you the happiest Mothers Day, sweet friend, God Bless You, we all love you so much! You have such a beautiful heart, sweet Sharon, thank you for sharing!

May love and light always shine upon you!

Love,
Noah Eaton

"Underneath your clothes there's an endless story..."

Shakira

Madame Chipmunk
Member Rara Avis

since 2001-12-05

Posts 8296
Michigan

2 posted 2002-05-11 09:58 PM

Sharon, this is so beautiful and the dialect definitely adds to the feeling of it.

~Happy Mother's Day hugs

Lyra

copyright2002 Lyra Nesius

"poetry is life distilled" Gwendolyn Brooks

Poet deVine

Administrator

Member Seraphic

since 1999-05-26

Posts 22612
Hurricane Alley

3 posted 2002-05-11 10:15 PM

Oh Sharon this is exceptional...the dialect only adds to the reality of your story.

Mysteria

Member Laureate

since 2001-03-07

Posts 18328
British Columbia, Canada

4 posted 2002-05-11 10:24 PM

Boy I am sure relieved, and very glad you liked it. I was driven to do this for Mother's Day as I have so much empathy for those women in that particular time period. I threw in the word sojourners to see if anyone was paying attention, and to give them something to call me a doh-doh for!
[This message has been edited by Mysteria (05-12-2002 12:28 AM).]

Tiersdin
Member Elite

since 2000-11-17

Posts 2364
east coast

5 posted 2002-05-11 11:09 PM

I love the way you've written this story! Well done, Mysteria!

Thank you!

~Tier

"I shall never bond again, as I have bonded with you..."

Balladeer

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-05

Posts 25505
Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA

6 posted 2002-05-11 11:20 PM

It was a brilliant thought to bring this to life, Sharon. Love of family crosses all lines or cultural or ethnic barriers.....this is very well done, miss

Nan

Administrator

Member Seraphic

since 1999-05-20

Posts 21191
Cape Cod Massachusetts USA

7 posted 2002-05-11 11:33 PM

Everything all those others said... plus... This is exceptional, m'friend..

Elizabeth Santos
Member Rara Avis

since 1999-11-08

Posts 9269
Pennsylvania

8 posted 2002-05-11 11:48 PM

Wow, Sharon, Very well done, indeed
Your diversity in subject matter is amazing
I really enjoyed reading this
Take care
Liz

Mysteria

Member Laureate

since 2001-03-07

Posts 18328
British Columbia, Canada

9 posted 2002-05-12 12:31 PM

Well coming from "the crtics" as a thumbs up, I thank you and mean that sincerely. I am testing new waters in trying to turn stories I have written that are food for thought into free verse poems. thanks again.

Midnitesun

Member Empyrean

since 2001-05-18

Posts 28647
Gaia

10 posted 2002-05-12 01:03 AM

This one will hold a treasured spot in my heart, and also in my library. If you had used 'proper' schoolhouse English, it would not have rang the bells true. It is stunningly beautiful. You have shared a sisterhood of motherly love with this piece, (Rose of) Sharon. And it speaks clearly of Sojourner's truths.

Logan
Senior Member

since 2001-05-28

Posts 1641
Arkansas

11 posted 2002-05-12 01:21 AM

Sharon, very gentle smile. This is one of your best. You pulled all of it just perfect as it was..very nice job

Martie

Moderator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-09-21

Posts 28049
California

12 posted 2002-05-12 11:33 AM

Sharon...this is very real and tenderly written..your pen is made of a heart that sees.

Mysteria

Member Laureate

since 2001-03-07

Posts 18328
British Columbia, Canada

13 posted 2002-05-12 11:54 AM

Happy Mother's Day to each and every type of Mother out there. Those with little children, grown children, estranged children, adopted children, chidren given up to adoption, deceased children...nothing will ever replace the bond of a Mother and child - nothing! Take your bow today, you earned it!

We should spend less time worrying about when our life is going to end and more on when it's going to start!

[This message has been edited by Mysteria (05-12-2002 11:55 AM).]

Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

14 posted 2002-05-12 06:20 PM

I think you did an admirable piece of work here, and I am very proud that you would try to set your hand to a patois that is not normal for you. It is difficult to speak in a language one is not familiar with, and my dear, you did a very good job here.

Of course, I've always been a bit partial to the mysteries of life, so you still tickle me....

ethome
Member Patricius

since 2000-05-14

Posts 11858
New Brunswick Canada

15 posted 2002-05-12 06:57 PM

Excellent! So very well done! Thanks for sharing that!

JamesMichael
Member Empyrean

since 1999-11-16

Posts 33336
Kapolei, Hawaii, USA

16 posted 2002-05-12 07:01 PM

Well done...James

Suetang
Member Ascendant

since 2001-03-07

Posts 5187
Melbourne, Australia

17 posted 2002-05-12 10:25 PM

Hello Sharon

This was stunning and so very well written with so much thought. You most definitely captured the moment and I was enthralled from start to finish. The sad thing is that too many people haven't moved on and there are still far too many racists out there for my liking. I have no time for such narrow minded people.

Take care......Sue

Suetang

Mysteria

Member Laureate

since 2001-03-07

Posts 18328
British Columbia, Canada

18 posted 2002-05-13 01:06 AM

Sunshine ~ Heck I will try anything to get a point across, well at least once

ethome and James Michael ~ I thank you for taking the time to read it, and

Sue ~ I hope I live to see the day we can actually say "brother" and "sister" with love and mean it. Thank you.

suthern

Member Seraphic

since 1999-07-29

Posts 20723
Louisiana

19 posted 2002-05-14 05:14 PM

What a wonderful story you've told... and you've told it so very well! *S* I enjoyed this very much, Mysteria!

Mysteria

Member Laureate

since 2001-03-07

Posts 18328
British Columbia, Canada

20 posted 2002-05-14 10:17 PM

Thank you Suthern, appreciate your reading it.

Let's spend less time worrying about when our life is going to end, and more on when it's going to start!

rwood
Member Elite

since 2000-02-29

Posts 3793
Tennessee

21 posted 2007-03-07 02:41 PM

Wonderful poem, Sharon. I say that with meaning, because I enjoyed the person speaking, as if I was on the porch with her, listening to her, watching her look outside her eyes into the sky, or looking down at her apron while she fiddled with the edges, telling her story, giving me a peek of her past, because it matters so much to her, and you made her matter to me.

Thank you for this. Exceptional write, dear lady.

love,
reg

Mysteria

Member Laureate

since 2001-03-07

Posts 18328
British Columbia, Canada

22 posted 2007-03-07 03:46 PM

Reggie, I see I removed the picture, and guess what? It was indeed a southern black lady about 78 if I recall that we met one travel time, who was indeed sitting on her steps in front of her hot tin and wood ramshackle shack (or that is what I called it.) She was so proud of her heritage and ancestors, that I did this up for her hoping not to offend her. She had the accent and dialect down pat, not me.

Thanks sweetie, missing you.

	⇧ top of page ⇧
All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format.