My Mother's Voice
Reflections on memories lost.130 total reviews
Comment from Poetic Friend
Brooke, this poem moved me to tears. I never read this one, otherwise I would have remembered it. The poem is beautiful and heartwarming. Definitely memorable!
What about a tape from an answering machine? When my father died in 1999, I kept the tape from the answering machine with his recorded voice.
Thank God, you have photographs. Thank you for leading me to this poem, Brooke. It will go down as one of my favorites of yours.
reply by the author on 01-Jan-2009
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Brooke, this poem moved me to tears. I never read this one, otherwise I would have remembered it. The poem is beautiful and heartwarming. Definitely memorable!
What about a tape from an answering machine? When my father died in 1999, I kept the tape from the answering machine with his recorded voice.
Thank God, you have photographs. Thank you for leading me to this poem, Brooke. It will go down as one of my favorites of yours.
Comment Written 01-Jan-2009
reply by the author on 01-Jan-2009
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My mother died in 1959, and we had never had any sort of movie camera, let alone one with sound - there is just no voice recorded I am touched by your response - thank you, Brooke
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My condolence on your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you, Brooke.
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2009 is the 50th anniversary of her death and the 100th birthday of both her and my dad - I need to think of a fitting something or other by July
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Do you mean a memorial service?
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I'm not sure what - some sort of graveside reading - a booklet, I don't know other than to know I need to mark the occasion somehow.
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Well, let your heart, muse and the Lord lead you.
Comment from Josipher32
Is this supposed to be a sonnet?
Great use of true and slant rhymes throughout. If this is a sonnet, and I'm not sure if it is, or not, the ten beat syllable count was good except for this line: "of poses held motionless..." which is 11 syllables.
reply by the author on 19-Sep-2008
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Is this supposed to be a sonnet?
Great use of true and slant rhymes throughout. If this is a sonnet, and I'm not sure if it is, or not, the ten beat syllable count was good except for this line: "of poses held motionless..." which is 11 syllables.
Comment Written 19-Sep-2008
reply by the author on 19-Sep-2008
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I don't label my poems any form any more because then people worry about if a line has too many syllables!! I read my poems aloud and if I'm happy with the cadence, I don't worry about a syllable here and there, which is not the case with lots of other people who care more than I do about such things. I write poems - period. LOL What is important to me is if they say something I meant to say and sound good at the same time. I am glad you enjoyed my poem despite the extra syllable. Thank you!!! :-)I
Comment from Jim Lorson Sr
Brooke, this is a very poignant poem wishing and wanting to fulfill a need that is very passionate. Your feelings, I can relate to. Wishing my father just once in his life, before he died, would tell me "Jimmy, I love you." he never said those words, but, by his actions, I knew he did.
An excellent writing bringing a little moisture to these eyes............jim
reply by the author on 19-Sep-2008
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Brooke, this is a very poignant poem wishing and wanting to fulfill a need that is very passionate. Your feelings, I can relate to. Wishing my father just once in his life, before he died, would tell me "Jimmy, I love you." he never said those words, but, by his actions, I knew he did.
An excellent writing bringing a little moisture to these eyes............jim
Comment Written 19-Sep-2008
reply by the author on 19-Sep-2008
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Wow, I am so sorry to hear your father was one of those people who had such difficulty expressing love, but even gladder that you were able to recognize his love anyway. I am so very very happy you got meaning from this poem. Thank you! Peace, Brooke
Comment from prisonerofhope
Soothing artwork with nice coloring. Loved your beautiful and well written thoughts in this poem. I espec. loved- ...I can see the playfulness in her smile... And- ...would she whisper some long-lost confidence she'd always intended just for my ears? Nicely done! prisonerofhope
reply by the author on 19-Sep-2008
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Soothing artwork with nice coloring. Loved your beautiful and well written thoughts in this poem. I espec. loved- ...I can see the playfulness in her smile... And- ...would she whisper some long-lost confidence she'd always intended just for my ears? Nicely done! prisonerofhope
Comment Written 19-Sep-2008
reply by the author on 19-Sep-2008
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I am so glad you like this poem and get meaning from it as I put my whole heart into it. Thank you so very much. Peace, Brooke :-)
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Hi Brookie- Your most welcome sweetie. It's a precious poem! Hugs- Patty
Comment from EKPoet
A beautiful sonnet, this is correct to form, and really captures the feelings of distance between you and your mother. the silence of those photographs, your only real connection to her memory, is quite poignant. you portray her sitting in that swing, her legs, her smile, but long for her voice, try to imagine what it sounded like. "If her voice could cut through the still silence" that was marvelous. this is just an outstanding sonnet that captures emotion with skill and craft EKPoet
reply by the author on 19-Sep-2008
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A beautiful sonnet, this is correct to form, and really captures the feelings of distance between you and your mother. the silence of those photographs, your only real connection to her memory, is quite poignant. you portray her sitting in that swing, her legs, her smile, but long for her voice, try to imagine what it sounded like. "If her voice could cut through the still silence" that was marvelous. this is just an outstanding sonnet that captures emotion with skill and craft EKPoet
Comment Written 19-Sep-2008
reply by the author on 19-Sep-2008
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You have selected one of my favorite lines of anything I've ever written to single out, and for that I especially thank you :-) This is a most generous review - thank you very much. Peace, Brooke
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I really liked this sonnet, this was excellent writing. How long have you been writing and what writers do you read? I am a bit of an experimenter, really into free verse and minimalism, influenced by Yates, Heaney, Anderson and Levertov. EKPoet
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My favorite poets are Emily Dickinson and ee cummings. I love many more - the poets of WWI really do it for me, as do Poe and Frost. Lots and lots - usually those more traditional than not, but not always. I love some of T.S.Eliot - the Four Quartettes floats my boat. :-) Anything that really has something meaningful to say. :-)
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Ah, The Four Quartets, that brings back some memories. I studied most of these poets in college, and they are fantastic poets. you have quite a back ground. I look forward to reading more of your work, always into people who have some knowledge of the form and take the time and effort to craft their pieces eK
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my husband and I went to Oxford for 6 weeks one summer with our colleges and while there, rented a car and traveled to the 3 British sites of 3 quartets - he took photos and I wrote out the poem in long hand - now in a Leather bound album - one of my fondest memories of him now that he has died
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This takes me back to my college days as well. i dont think I have read Four Quartets since then. My poetry has really gone in another direction, moving away from conversational internal dialogue and more into constructed forms, mostly minimalsim and combinations of minimalism with open ended free verse. I want to create repeating patterns of sparkling images and sounds in my poems now EKPo
Comment from Kentucky Sweet Pea
Absolutely stunning, Brooke! This begs the question---what happened? I cannot imagine your emptiness and pain as a child, nor as an adult. She would be (and I am sure somehow, somewhere upon and within the magic of God's Universe, is) very proud of her daughter. You are a wonderful, quality person, cut from, surely, the very same lovely cloth.
Penny
reply by the author on 19-Sep-2008
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Absolutely stunning, Brooke! This begs the question---what happened? I cannot imagine your emptiness and pain as a child, nor as an adult. She would be (and I am sure somehow, somewhere upon and within the magic of God's Universe, is) very proud of her daughter. You are a wonderful, quality person, cut from, surely, the very same lovely cloth.
Penny
Comment Written 19-Sep-2008
reply by the author on 19-Sep-2008
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Thank you so very much for such a kind review. I actually have no memory whatsoever of anything in my life during those 6 months she was dying from liver cancer. My memory resumes on the night she died as I lay in my neighbor's house, looking out the window at her window light go out eventually at around 4 am. I remember that night completely and the next afternoon when the retired minister who lived next door met me when I got off the school bus to tell me she had died the night before - but not one memory of when she wasted away. I have wanted to write a poem about that aspect of her death for years but still haven't managed. Missing her voice is as close as I get. Thanks so much for this kind review :-)
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I urge you to write what you can. If anyone can do it (when you are ready) it is you.
Comment from StevenJosephBruening
A lovely tribute poem that fits the presented picture perfectly. The softness of the tone of the poem was almost like a private loving whisper, and made this piece even more endearing to me as a reader. No SPAGS to be found.
reply by the author on 19-Sep-2008
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A lovely tribute poem that fits the presented picture perfectly. The softness of the tone of the poem was almost like a private loving whisper, and made this piece even more endearing to me as a reader. No SPAGS to be found.
Comment Written 19-Sep-2008
reply by the author on 19-Sep-2008
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Thank you so much for this most gracious review!
Comment from TerraDawn
What a gorgeous thought. You final lines were amazing and captured the poem just beautifully. I love the simple words and the simple rhythm and simple yet powerful meaning of it all. Just gorgeous. Honestly, if I had six stars to give, they would be yours.
reply by the author on 19-Sep-2008
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What a gorgeous thought. You final lines were amazing and captured the poem just beautifully. I love the simple words and the simple rhythm and simple yet powerful meaning of it all. Just gorgeous. Honestly, if I had six stars to give, they would be yours.
Comment Written 19-Sep-2008
reply by the author on 19-Sep-2008
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I've gone from loving you to being ready to propose to you - and I don't even know which gender you are ;-) Thank you yet again. :-) Peace, Brooke
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Hahahahahaha. You made me blush!!! Alas, though. I am female...so perhaps we should just remain friends? I'm really glad my review pleased you so much!! Your poem really was just absolute 100% pleasure to read. I am looking forward to seeing more of your work!!
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yes, I suppose friends it must remain. :-D
Comment from Diny
I am sure she would be very proud of your talent- and say something like- You are so preciuos and gifted I knew it the moment I laid eyes on you for the first time!- You may not be able to TALK to her or hear her- but with the written word you have done her proud indeed- Write on!Diny
reply by the author on 19-Sep-2008
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I am sure she would be very proud of your talent- and say something like- You are so preciuos and gifted I knew it the moment I laid eyes on you for the first time!- You may not be able to TALK to her or hear her- but with the written word you have done her proud indeed- Write on!Diny
Comment Written 18-Sep-2008
reply by the author on 19-Sep-2008
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You are a most kind and compassionate person - thank you so much for a lovely review!! :-)
Comment from Winslow
Dear Pearl,
I sure they would say you are my girl, she sing a merry tune. This poem has good rhythm and flow with some excellent rhyming too.
Warm regard,
Winslow
reply by the author on 18-Sep-2008
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Dear Pearl,
I sure they would say you are my girl, she sing a merry tune. This poem has good rhythm and flow with some excellent rhyming too.
Warm regard,
Winslow
Comment Written 18-Sep-2008
reply by the author on 18-Sep-2008
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Thank you so much for this lovely review :-)
