An Ode to My Dear Mom

She was a pretty Dutch girl, slim with curly blonde hair

Her youth was well spent with an education to prepare

For life with a good gent, but was told to be aware

That all men are not equal in the husbands they make

As you offer to much ectal her heart he might break.

But Herman seemed true and she thought he would do

So as the war came to an end, they were wed, these two

With no thought of the bends life could take

It was Canada they must go to live on a farm.

At first glance it was good to work arm in arm.

T’was turkeys they would raise with hope and a prayer

For the payments were too much to manage for later

But as turkeys grew hungry when the money ran low

The farm was in default, the family would go!

It would be off to a job, for Herman no doubt

As they moved further from their farming dreams

They soon settled in a place within their means

Luckily the new house had rooms to spare

As my new little sister came to us there

My Mom now saddled with six kids

Would do her best beyond all bids

My memories of her were fond indeed

As she was diligent in making whatever we need

Weither it was a meal or just a snack

Or even a coat for on our back

She magically fashioned these for us you know

from seemingly nothing and nowhere to go

Except for the love and devotion she did bare.

We all grew up and found lives of our own

But she stayed behind as if tied to a stone

She started to blossom by doing her crafts

Her daughters came back to teach her so much

Of the luxuries of life, she had yet to touch

As everything she had was not for her about

She never complained or seemed to care

Being left alone, behind or without

Even the most intimate moments one might share

Would be over and out before she was there

Witnessing only their love as it grew cold

It was just too painful to be told

She focused on her macrame and lace making too

Even did all the cooking for you know who

Always with the flowers in the yard

She kept herself busy with no regard

Then one day I heard her say

“My knots, I can’t remember today”

It wasn’t long before her cooking too

Became a hazard that the local firemen knew

Her slide back was quick as her mind was not to last

Her brief moments of lucidity were even a shock

As she would realize what time was on the clock

Time ticking by with no memories to store

Was her life experience being no more?

Her body responded in a healthy way but her face

showed the pain as if feeling change at the fast pace

She cried out one last time, knowing her life was a mess

she clamped her lips and teeth so tight

No food could pass, not even a bite

It wasn’t long before she pasted away

But never to be forgotten not even today

As the lady who stayed to struggle on

Giving of herself till she was gone

Always in our hearts as “Our Dear Mom”.

By Joe van Koeverden