She says always do your Best
She says this life is a Test
She is the mother of the Nest
She loves us all the Same
She's too good for Fame
She gave me my own Name
We all wish we could repay her
She won't take diamonds or Fur
It's Kindness and Words She'd Prefer
© Brittney Hibbert 2016

They carried us
Through gestation,
Or adopted
Without hesitation.
Our coming
Was a celebration,
Mothers are our affirmation.
They deliver.

When we were quiet
From travails,
She made time
For school-yard tales.
The warmth of sunshine
Shyly pales
To her prevailing arms.

They nurtured us
Til eyes dried out;
Cried alone
When we left
The house;
Waiting by the door,
Like a living cure.

When Moms do well
All can tell
The Madonna-like connection:
No need to forgive them,
We'll always grieve them;
They've loved us
Since conception.

Dear MOM,
I'm one hell of a lucky guy to have someone like you. You are absolutely amazing in every aspect of your life.
You always gave me some extra pocket money and I still can't figure out - how you could figure out my needs even before asking.
Quite some superpowers you have.
I saw some pictures yesterday of you holding me as a baby and believe me I felt so safe with you,
I felt I'm been watched over all the time and nothing wrong can happen to me.
Thank you for everything.
From a really lucky son

Note to the reader: I give any reader permission to give this to their mother. Your mother deserves better than Hallmark. Although you should write your own, I understand not all have the ability. No need to ask or tell me you used this. Thank you for reading this piece I wrote for my mother.

To You


This isn't for you because this pales in comparison
For all the things you do for me, it is embarassing
Yet you endure me every sun and moon
Despite all the people in this world that thinks I'm a loon
But I don't want this to be about me
This is for all things you do, selflessly, for free
You don't deserve what the world has dealt you
Gold and jewels wouldn't be enough for all that you do
Maybe one day you won't have so many burdens
Or will be properly compensated
I can't promise either of those things
All I have are these words of gratitude
Thank you
I wish I could convey this sentiment better
I love you more than I could ever explain in this letter
Happy Mother's Day, even though you deserve a year or later

It's mother's day today
Please don't hate me
Atleast for a day
Trust me when I say
I love you as much as your sons do
And I pray for you silently
And I feel sorry for
All the differences in our opinions
But that's who I am
I can't be anything else
What you demand will deprive me of myself
Please don't take that away
Please believe me when I say
That in those long hours of night, it is you for whom I pray.

Bridget was born on a flax mill farm,
Near the Cavan border, in Monaghan,
At Lough Egish on the Carrick Road,
The last child of the Sheridans.
The sluice still runs near the water wheel,
With thistles thriving on rusted steel.

What's known of Nellie's early years?
Da died before her grieving tears,
But burn her eyes in later years.

She's eleven posing with her class,
This photo shows an Irish lass.
Her visage blurred,
Her eyes look distant,
Yet recognizable
In an instant.

She attended school for six short years,
The three R's, some Irish,
And a Doctorate in tears.

Her Mammy grew ill,
She lost a leg,
And bit by bit,
By age sixteen,
Nellie buried her first dead.
Too young to be alone,
Sisters and brother had left the home.
The cloistered convent took her in,
She taught urchins and orphans
About God, Grace and sin.
There were no vows for Nellie then.

At nineteen she met a Creamery man,
Jim Lynch of the Cavan clan;
He delivered dairy from his lorry,
Married Nellie
To relieve their worry.

War flared up, and men were few,
So the work in Coventry
Left Ireland's thistles to bloom.

Nellie soon was Michael's Mammy,
Then Maura, Sheila and Kevin were carried.
When war floundered to its end,
They shipped back to Monaghan,
To work the flax mill again.

The thistles and weeds
That surrounded the mill,
Were scythed and scattered
By Daddy's zeal.
He built himself a generator.
And powered the lights and the wheel.

Sean was born,
Gerald soon followed;
Then Michael died.
A nine year old,
His Father's angel.
(Is this what turns
A father strange?)

Francie arrived,
Then Eucheria,
But ten months later
Bold death took her.
Grief knows no family borders
For brothers and sisters, sons and daughters.

We left for Canada.

Mammy brought six kids along,
Leaving her dead behind,
Buried with Ireland in familiar songs.

Daddy was waiting for family,
Six months before Mammy got free
From death's inhumanity.
Her tears and griefs weren't yet over,
She birthed another son and daughter;
Jimmy and Marlene left us too,
Death is sure,
Death is cruel.

Grandchildren came, she was Granny,
Bridget, Nellie, but still our Mammy.
She lived this life eduring pain
That mothers bear,
Mothers sustain.
And yet, in times of personal strain,
I'll sometimes whisper her one name,
Mammy.

Yes I've seen that I'm the blessed one,
  in more than every way;
When I first met you, my mother,
   On my very first birth day!

Oh yes, My God made perfect sense
   as following Master's plan;
When He placed you as my mother,
   named me, your biggest fan!

I wouldn't change the smallest thing,
   nor'd ever chose another;
So i tell you now, I'm more than blessed,
   to have you as my mother!

So mother, you're much more than
   just a woman who gave birth;
You're a masterpiece and then some,
   that my God sent down to earth!

It's this time of year again,
   that we thank Our God above;
For that special one He sent,
   for to share a mother's love!

It's  a love above all else,
   you will see if just you'll pause;
That she gave more than all,
   and looked over all your flaws!

She'll wrap you up in loving arms,
   hold you closer day by day;
Walk beside you hand in hand,
   show she's there, and there to stay!

So treat your mom with all respect,
   for she's loved you since your birth;
She's the only mom you'll have,
   for your time upon this earth!

So dear mom, I love you so,
   and I pray from this day on;
That you'll feel my love for you,
   know I'm blessed to call you "Mom"!