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This Poem was Submitted By: marilyn terwilleger On Date: 2007-03-28 18:18:17 . . . Click Here To Mail this Poem to a Friend!

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My Husband's Mother

Crisp Autumn afternoons, green beans snapping. Gentle winds across the plains, crackles of sage hens frying. House dress of cotton, a box of buttons, warm brown eyes, gray in her hair. I never recall these things without thinking of her, or sense these things without missing her. Robustness has left her now; the essence of her is gone. She smiles at me but sees me not. We share a common thread binding us together. We both loved and lost her son. My husbandâ€™s mother and me.

Additional Notes:
This is one of the first poems I posted on TPL. About a year before my mother-in-law passed away she forgot who I was. Even though she couldn't remember me she told me she loved me just the same.

This Poem was Critiqued By: James C. Horak On Date: 2007-04-04 16:07:09
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 10.00000
There is a certain fineness to persisting relationships in time. I pray that, among so many diminishing features, will find some continuance in our cultural decline. The example you have set in this poem of this is exquisite, it is both a fine reflection on your own constancy and on your mother-in-law's own goodness. The beginning of your poem is like a capture of one of John Reade's home and hearth vignettes, a very welcome mat of sorts,inviting your reader into a world youth today may easily miss. Central here is: I never recall these things without thinking of her, or sense these things without missing her. What a metaphor/euphemism for so much! Like so much of the past your mother- in-law, defined so interestingly as "My Husband's Mother", has become a focus for sublimation. Not a 57 Chevy or a big cheeseburger on a toasted bun. Either that or you just wanted to screw with my inherent joy in telling mother-in-law jokes. JCH

This Poem was Critiqued By: DeniMari Z. On Date: 2007-04-04 15:35:27
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.77778
Dear Marilyn, I remembered this poem, as soon as I started reading it - it must have stayed in my memory. This is a tear jerker, and makes me feel empathetic to the circumstance you found yourself in. Your title, befits the poem, and the simplicity of the style of write - is endearing with telling the world what you have lost, the full emotion of loss placed within each verse. Being in the mindset, of just loosing my own mother, and still dealing with that tremendous loss, I could relate to this, at this time in my life, and I know others will too. sincerely, Denimari

This Poem was Critiqued By: Nancy Ann Hemsworth On Date: 2007-04-02 18:03:33
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 1.00000
oh Marilyn do I ever relate to this poem. I think of all these things when I think of my grandmothers house and the whole feeling of the era. It brings warm and melancoly thoughts to mind. I have never lost a husband to death but the description here rings true. She sounds like she was a wonderful lady and strong in spirit even when not remembering she still held that softness and loving side, the compassion still there an inward understanding of sorts. I love the lines "Robustness has left her now; the essence of her is gone." but I disagree somewhat with this statement of "her essence being gone"..the essence is in the continued compassion..that is the "biggness of her spirit"..

This Poem was Critiqued By: Claire H. Currier On Date: 2007-03-31 09:38:47
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.93750
How very fortunate you both were for the memories you have held close to your heart brings forth the love felt between you and your husband's mother. The words you choose to share with us brings her to life once more with her housedress of cotton and her box of buttons. My mother in law saved buttons in old canning jars and you should see all the canning jars down the cellar.........green beans snapping.......my mother in law was still toiling the soil not too many years ago; she knows us for sure but her legs no longer carry her about..........loved to listen to her southern droll......and the stories she would tell over and over again........she is still with us though in a nursing home now...........she is still a Georgia peach to us. Thanks for reposting this poem and for sharing your memories with us. God Bless, Claire

This Poem was Critiqued By: Dellena Rovito On Date: 2007-03-30 20:33:59
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 10.00000
Marilyn, This is very nice, poignant in fact. I can imagine what it would mean to you having a closeness with your beloved husbands mother. It would be comforting. And I'm sure soothing for her also. Upon looking into the eyes of someone who loves you, it mirrors back to you as a reflection. How wonderful for both of you! Lovely poem. I'd try a different title like; Another Mother, His Mother,Sage Hens Frying, Loved this poem. Good job again, Dellena

This Poem was Critiqued By: Lora Silvey On Date: 2007-03-28 20:36:48
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 10.00000
Marilyn, I remember reading this wonderful write of yours and was in awe the first time I read it. I'm so pleased you decided to re-post it, it gives the birth of spring a new meaning (even if that was unententional)a meaning of rememberance and renewal, the blessings of a loving spirit and how we are all joined in some way/connected. I enjoyed this I think more this read than with the first, sort of left me warm and fuzzy even though it is a bit sad; although all things were as they were suppose to be. God Bless, Lora

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