(This poem was read by Miss Oxslip as part of Miss Acorne's 'Tribute to Moms Everywhere' at the Dance thru the Forest of Oaks event 2023)
Mother
You fill the opening pages of that book
Which chronicles my life; these roles you play,
Guardian, teacher, playmate, nurse, and friend.
Yet as the plot moves on there comes a day
When from your doting chains I must break free
To grow, develop, live my life as me!
Myself a mother now, I clasp my babe,
On her my every hope and fear projected.
Yet think too on the sacrifice I’ve made,
On all that might have been that I rejected.
That cord which binds at birth is never cut:
Yet for every door that opens one is shut!
Older now, when I look in the glass,
I start when there so much of her I see.
Diminished now, as life draws to its end,
She needs the care which once she gave to me.
When she passes, though I’ll shed some tears,
I’ll keep those values given me down the years.
