Mom’s Collection By Dan Tow (Part- I)
By Dan Tow • Jun 22nd, 2007 • Category: Interviews • 8 Comments •This is a collection of the poems I, Dan Tow, wrote for my mother between my later teen years and Christmas, shortly before I turned 47. These were mostly given to Mom on her birthdays, for Christmas, and for Mother’s Days, and collected by her in an album she willed to me on her death when I was 47, shortly before Mother’s Day of that year. It also includes a poem she wrote for Parva (my wife) and I regarding the occasion of our wedding, also collected in the same album. Mom collected these years after I wrote most of them, and they are only roughly in chronological order, as near as we know, and a few are likely missing.
This was the first poem I wrote for Mom, and it remained one of our favorites. She kept a copy of this framed on a shelf for most of the 20 years or so since I wrote it. I think I wrote it for her birthday when I was about 16, and she reacted so strongly to it, crying with pleasure, that I decided to try to write more poems for her for future occasions, and she liked these so much that I never stopped, although on some occasions I couldn’t come up with much, and had to work hard not to just repeat myself.
I should give a little background so this poem makes sense: Mom loved watching ballet, sometimes finding herself pointing her toes while watching a ballet performance. She used to say, semi-seriously, that perhaps she’d been a ballet dancer in an earlier life. I always had a similar affinity for birds and flying, and she said perhaps I had been a bird. When I refer in the poem to “times long past,” I’m referring to these previous lives that Mom spoke of in her speculations.
In times long past
You and I flew;
You on toes
I on wings.
Still we have
Dancing thoughts
And flying dreams.
Your hands fed my body.
Your love warmed my heart.
Your wise, gentle guidance
And example
Gave me vision
To steer a clear course
While freely charting
New paths.
From first small explorations,
Climbing over,
Crawling under,
Eyes flashing
Bright and alert,
Your little ones venture forth
From your warm, secure lap
To embrace the wide world.
Source of earthly wisdom,
Sane priorities,
Safe harbor to strike out adventuring,
Sheltering warmth,
Security and love,
Everywhere I go,
I carry within
Your everlasting gifts.
I bloom
With your love light
*************
To Be Continueud……
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the peom is true picture of mother’s love, care, softness of relation etc etc
but mother never told me there would be days like this.
She cannot not tell because she was involved in my care, my teaching, my confort, my days and nights when i cannot eat, cannot sleep, cannot walk, ignoring the world’s situation and surroundings.
I mean thats fabulous. Thats amazing. We have always heart how mother loves and remembers her childs every chit chat and movement. She sees her child growing up, and then become an elder, and she remembers everything, but
first time I have seen such a tribute to mother from a son. Its very nice to see someone like Mr. Dan to remember his mother all these year and doing poetry for her.
She must be proud of you.
Poetry for Mother. Its a huge token of love.
Yesterday was my mother’s birthday, and I wrote your verses on her birthday card. She was more than happy.
The verses, I “stole” were:
Climbing over,
Crawling under,
Eyes flashing
Bright and alert,
Your little ones venture forth
From your warm, secure lap
To embrace the wide world.
You said in your poetry, “Source of earthly wisdom”, I think she gives us more than mundane wisdom. She not only makes us worldly successful, but also strengthen our hereafter (provided if anyone believes in hereafter, ofcourse)
Your mom kept your first poem for 20 years. That reminds me of my mother. She kept my first ever toy for 30 years, and it is still present in our drawing room right besides her picture. I love you Mother.
I dont know why but you just made me weep with these lasting words.
Everywhere I go,
I carry within
Your everlasting gifts.
My mother also has very fond affinity for birds and ballet. It seems that they both have some very strong bond between them. Perhaps its the freedom with lightness and perfection.
Exquisitly Beautiful Post. I do want more of them. Dont just you think that we only want to read the political posts.