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

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Mysteria

Member Laureate

since 2001-03-07

Posts 18328
British Columbia, Canada

0 posted 2004-05-09 01:27 PM

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

Papa up and 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 dem 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 dat 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 we loved the nights.
Mama sung to us and others joined in.
They sung songs of our roots, our home,
remindin us to neva 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 by the english used in this poem. I was only trying to capture the time and place it might have taken place in.

photo: personal

Today I'm only moving clouds, tomorrow I'll try mountains.

iliana
Member Patricius

since 2003-12-05

Posts 13434
USA

1 posted 2004-05-09 01:43 PM

Wonderful poem for Mother's Day!

Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

2 posted 2004-05-09 02:34 PM

Thank you for bringing this back, Sharon...you've captured the time, and tone, so very well.

Seymour Tabin
Member Empyrean

since 1999-07-07

Posts 31720
Tamarac Fla

3 posted 2004-05-09 02:42 PM

Mysteria
Excellent write and read.

Dark Angel
Member Patricius

since 1999-08-04

Posts 10095

4 posted 2004-05-09 05:13 PM

Thanks for this Sharon.

Happy Mum's Day.

Maree

The clouds never expect it when it rains, but the sea, changes colours, but the sea, does not change.
~Stevie Nicks~

passing shadows
Member Empyrean

since 1999-08-26

Posts 45577
displaced

5 posted 2004-05-09 05:16 PM

oh I remember this one!!!

great repost!

Enchantress
Member Empyrean

since 2001-08-14

Posts 35113
Canada eh.

6 posted 2004-05-09 05:49 PM

Perfect!! One of my favourites from you!
~Smiles & Hugs, Nancy~

~ Trace my body with your words,
in doing so, you touch my heart ~

Larry C

Member Patricius

since 2001-09-10

Posts 10286
United States

7 posted 2004-05-09 10:40 PM

Sharon,
I do remember this. It gets better with time...just like you. Happy mother's day.

If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane, I'd walk right up to heaven and bring you home again.

JamesMichael
Member Empyrean

since 1999-11-16

Posts 33336
Kapolei, Hawaii, USA

8 posted 2004-05-10 02:48 AM

Lovely....James

Kit McCallum

Administrator

Member Laureate

since 2000-04-30

Posts 14774
Ontario, Canada

9 posted 2004-05-10 06:30 AM

Sharon, I hadn't read this one before! Wow, you captured the era and feel of this piece beautifully, well done. The part where you described the berry stains with the true toil of their mom was incredibly vivid ... very much enjoyed this!

Hope you had a wonderful Mom's Day!

Best wishes and hugs,
/Kit

Poet deVine

Administrator

Member Seraphic

since 1999-05-26

Posts 22612
Hurricane Alley

10 posted 2004-05-10 08:18 AM

Ah...this is a golden one. Thanks for reposting it. You captured the feel of the era and no one could take offence at it!

Mysteria

Member Laureate

since 2001-03-07

Posts 18328
British Columbia, Canada

11 posted 2004-05-10 10:08 PM

Thanks for putting up with a re-post as I am so busy with life these days, I miss you all in here, and do read but don't have time to sit to write, at least not now. I hope all have a lovely Mother's Day. I sure did

JL
Member Ascendant

since 2004-04-01

Posts 6128
Texas, USA

12 posted 2004-05-11 08:19 PM

Beautiful family story. Enjoyed the read.
JL

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