I Remember Mama

A Tribute Poem

I Remember Mama
A Tribute Poem

Freestyle poetry, also known as free verse, is poetry that doesn’t play by the normal rules —the poems have no set rhyme or rhythm, but they’re still considered to be a valid artistic expression.

It is sometimes thought to be a modern form of poetry, but free verse has been around for hundreds of years.

There’s no set pattern for writing a free verse poem, until the poet creates one. With no set rules, the poet decides where to break a poem into stanzas of two or more lines, or with each new thought.

This is a free verse Tribute I wrote dedicated to Mama. She was an amazing lady with a heart the size of Texas. She was known for having a positive influence on every life she touched.

I Remember Mama
by C.J. Heck

I remember Mama ...
blowing chewing gum 
bubbles to entertain us 
while she ironed. 
I was too young for school, 
Sesame Street 
wasn't invented yet, 
the rain was pouring 
outside and I was awed.

I remember Mama ...
sewing at her machine into 
the night when she had to 
get up early for work, 
patching my favorite pair 
of cutoffs 'just one more time' 
or putting pockets on pants 
because my little brother 
adored them, and I still hear 
her words, "There's all kinds 
of ways to say I love you."

I remember Mama ...
teaching us that beauty on the 
inside was more important 
than on the outside and she
urged us to always remember,
"A kind word to a stranger 
might be the only kind word 
that person heard all day" 
… and how good it felt 
finding out she was right.

I remember Mama ...
telling us to hold onto our 
dreams. Make them happen 
and never say, "I can't" 
and how funny I thought it 
when she said the world 
was our watermelon and all 
we had to do was grab it 
and take a big bite.

I remember Mama ...
who taught us best by
example with unconditional 
love. "Love isn't love until 
it's given away and it's 
in the giving we find
love does come back 
ten-fold."

I remember Mama ...
teaching us: "Crying may
be all we can do when
love is too big for words.
When we stop expecting
someone to be perfect, we
can start to love them for
who they really are."

I remember, Mama.
I do my best to remember.

*
[From the book, “Anatomy of a Poet”, by C.J. Heck]
["I Remember Mama", published in Steel Point Quarterly, Spring 2002]

CJ’s World is a free publication, but you can help me keep the lights on and the wonder alive with 1 of 3 paid subscription levels.

Your support will help me keep creating mindful, meaningful content. (plus, each level comes with gifts for you from me).