PAST DREAMS OF A GIRL

SHE CAME TONIGHT AS I SAT ALONE...
THE GIRL I USED TO BE.
AND SHE GAZED AT ME WITH HER EARNEST EYE
AND QUESTIONED REPROACHFULLY:

HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN THE MANY PLANS
AND HOPES I HAD FOR YOU?
THE GREAT CAREER, THE SPLENDID FAME,
ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS TO DO?

WHERE IS THE MANSION OF STATELY HEIGHT
WITH ALL ITS GARDENS RARE?
THE SILKEN ROBES THAT I DREAMED FOR YOU
AND THE JEWELS IN YOUR HAIR?

AND AS SHE SPOKE, I WAS VERY SAD
FOR I WANTED HER PLEASED WITH ME...
THIS SLENDER GIRL FROM THE SHADOWY PAST
THE GIRL THAT I USED TO BE.

SO GENTLY RISING, I TOOK HER HAND
AND GUIDED HER UP THE STAIRS
WHERE PEACEFULLY SLEEPING, MY BABIES LAY
INNOCENT, SWEET, AND FAIR.

AND I TOLD HER THAT THESE ARE MY ONLY GEMS,
AND PRECIOUS THEY ARE TO ME;
THAT SILKEN ROBES IN MY MOTHERHOOD
OF COASTLY SIMPLICITY.

AND MY MANSIONS OF STATELY HEIGHT IS LOVE,
AND THE ONLY CAREER I KNOW
IS SERVING EACH DAY IN THESE SHELTERED WALLS
FOR THE DEAR ONES WHO COME AND GO.

AND AS I SPOKE TO MY SHADOWY GUEST,
SHE SMILED THROUGH HER TEARS AT ME.
AND I SAW THE WOMAN THAT I AM NOW
PLEASED THE GIRL I USED TO BE.
--Author unknown

A TRIBUTE TO MY MOTHER

Reflections of love
Like ripples
In time
Reaching shore
Take me home.

I wind the clock
And memories
Wiping tears
In lullabies
Make me secure.

The dew of morning
Hanging helplessly
Flows together
In streams of grace
And youth is strong.

I see the old oak
Bent with time
As leaves begin to fall
wrinkled
Spent
But firm.

Yesterday's hopes
Planted in springtime
Yield blooms
Of purpose
While the graying
At sunset
Beckons her
To yonder Shore
This priceless gift
My mother.
--B.Pent