A Poem for Mom's Birthday

Songs For My Mother: Her Hands

by Anna Hempstead Branch

My mother's hands are cool and fair,

They can do anything.

Delicate memories hide them there

Like flowers in the spring.

When I was small and could not sleep,

She used to come to me,

And with my cheek upon her hand

How sure my rest would be.

For everything she ever touched

Of beautiful or fine,

Their memories living in her hands

Would warm that sleep of mine.

Her hands remembered how they played

One time in meadow streams,

And all the flickering song and shade
Of water took my dreams.

Swift through her haunted fingers pass

Memories of garden things;

I dipped my face in flowers and grass

And sounds of hidden wings.

One time she touched the cloud that kissed

Brown pastures bleak and far;

I leaned my cheek into a mist

And thought I was a star.

All this was very long ago

And I am grown;but yet

The hand that lured my slumber so

I never can forget.

For still when drowsiness comes on

It seems so soft and cool,

Shaped happily beneath my cheek,

Hollow and beautiful.

Happy birthday, Mom!

I love you so much and am so thankful God gave me You!
I know how much you love poems and I can find so many beautiful ones that I know you'd love but remember that time when your neighbor cut down the tree in his front yard and you were so mad that you sent him the Tree poem anonymously!
That was so funny!
And what about you trying to get Dad interested in all the poetry stuff and he just doesn't get it! You can't figure out how anyone on this earth couldn't appreciate poetry! 
Ha, ha! At least I can sympathize with you a little bit!  I am so glad you introduced poetry to me all those years ago! It's just another gift to enjoy!
Maybe you can write a poem for your birthday-maybe about your little trip to Saugatuck!
Again, remember how much you are loved!

Trees
by Joyce Kilmer

I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is pressed
Against the earth's sweet-flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day.
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.

An Easter Wish

I know it's been awhile since I've written. 
For a while I thought maybe it's already been written somewhere else.
Do I have anything worth sharing that hasn't already been said?
Deep in my heart I feel a tug to continue writing on this bit of space.
Maybe some tiny word will bring a bit of light to someone's heart!
Maybe.
I am willing, though slow I am. (tiny sigh)

But my heart feels happy!
Easter is here!
Such a beautiful story God has written with the blood of His precious Son!

Our little home school had each child read aloud an Easter poem.
Michael Hague's Family Easter Treasury is a beautiful book with beautiful illustrations and wonderful stories and poems of Easter.

Here are a few we read:

An Easter Wish
Anonymous

May the glad dawn
of Easter morn
Bring joy to thee.

May the calm eve
Of Easter leave
A peace divine with thee.

May Easter night
On thine heart write,
O Christ, I live for thee.


Easter's Coming
Aileen Fisher

Through the sunshine,
through the shadow,
down the hillside, 
down the meadow.
little streams
run bright and merry,
bursting with the news
they carry,
singing, shouting,
laughing, humming,
"Easter's coming,
Easter's coming!"


The Gospel According to St. Matthew 28:1-6:

 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.  
And behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
He is not here: for he is risen, as he said.  Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

May your hearts be filled with hope and happiness this Easter!