My Mama And Her Mama Before Her - (Mother's Day from #20)

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Mysteria

Member Laureate

since 2001-03-07

Posts 18328
British Columbia, Canada

0 posted 2003-05-10 01:55 PM

~* My Mama And Her Mama Before Her *~

You ask how it feels to be free?
Papa died one day, just stopped.
Two workers brung him from the fields,
cotton still stuck under his nails,
and said the Lord took him,
he's free now, praise the Lord!
Mama cried, then whispered,
"why didn't the Lord take me too?"
I was sure sure glad he didn't.

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

She done woke us long before birds
warbled anything sweet in da mornin,
and on empty bellies we all
hopped and skipped along behind
to them fields of pain
where berries were breakfast.
Hurry she'd always whisper,
'forein someone sees ya.

I reckon she wore the same dress,
and kerchief on her head jus like me,
saving herself from the sun stroke,
day in and day out, night in, night out.
From farm to farm she carried the
day's dirt to our hayloft.
Ah I loved the nights.
She would hold us and rock us in turns
soas my sisters and brother got some too.

Mama sung to us and folks joined in.
She sung like a bird she did.
Sung songs of our roots, our home,
remindin us to never forget we was
black and ta be proud of it.
We learned new songs of freedom
she said men was hung for them words.
She sang there's gonna be a new day.

From farm to forest, we was followin her,
wherever Mama said food of survival grew,
all the while hoping someone would
take us soas 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 a home
They kept us until she could pick
then the white boss man said we was movin on.

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.
Isn't that what mamas do?

~*~

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

[This message has been edited by Mysteria (05-10-2003 02:02 PM).]

Midnitesun

Member Empyrean

since 2001-05-18

Posts 28647
Gaia

1 posted 2003-05-10 02:02 PM

oh, I remember this wonderful tribute to a mother
thanks for re-posting it

passing shadows
Member Empyrean

since 1999-08-26

Posts 45577
displaced

2 posted 2003-05-10 02:20 PM

I think sometimes we forget just how easy we have life these days...what a great write!

Mistletoe Angel

Member Empyrean

since 2000-12-17

Posts 32816
Portland, Oregon

3 posted 2003-05-10 02:44 PM

(big hugggssssssss) God Bless You, sweet friend, this is beautiful and I don't think the English at all affects this, for it only shows your sincerity and love for your mother and all the mothers before you who passed their golden heart onto you and shows how motherhood truly reflects the loving people we are! (kiss on cheek) This is wonderful, sweet friend, Happy Mothers Day, yay, 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***

Enchantress
Member Empyrean

since 2001-08-14

Posts 35113
Canada eh.

4 posted 2003-05-10 03:00 PM

I remember this Sharon...and that in itself, knowing how many poems have been on this board over the year, is meant as a compliment!
Amazing...just amazing.
Thank you so much for this....today.
~Hugs~

~Somewhere in my heart I'm always
dancing with you in the summer rain~

littlewing
Member Rara Avis

since 2003-03-02

Posts 9655
New York

5 posted 2003-05-10 03:03 PM

Sharon - and what a beautiful tribute it is
you have done a beautiful job
*smiling*

if only all mothers would be lovely . . .
xxoo

Mysteria

Member Laureate

since 2001-03-07

Posts 18328
British Columbia, Canada

6 posted 2003-05-11 01:33 AM

Thank you for taking the time to read this tribute and Nancy Lee, that is the nicest compliment I have EVER had!

Dark Angel
Member Patricius

since 1999-08-04

Posts 10095

7 posted 2003-05-11 01:54 AM

Sharon, this a beautifully penned tribute.

like my Mama did, and her Mama before her.
Isn't that what mamas do?

Yup, that's what they do.

Adding this to my library

garysgirl

Member Laureate

since 2002-09-29

Posts 19237
Florida, USA

8 posted 2003-05-11 02:10 AM

sharon, your title about "Mama's" caught
my attention. That's what I call my Mother.
I really liked this poem. It touched my heart.
Hugs,

Ethel

vandana

Member Patricius

since 1999-10-22

Posts 10463
USA

9 posted 2003-05-12 07:04 PM

enjoyed this

NewEnglandlazurlu
Member Rara Avis

since 2002-01-04

Posts 7470
A Mountain Paradise

10 posted 2003-05-12 07:19 PM

I cried my friend, thinking of all those black women working their fingers to the bone. But in the end, this piece brought a smile thinking of all the love those mothers gave to their young ones.

And only if ALL mothers loved their young as much as these you've written about.

Fantastic job here Sharon.

Hugs, Marti

Few are those who see with their own eyes and feel with their own hearts. A.Einstein

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