This Poem was Submitted By: Mark D. Kilburn On Date: 2005-10-20 09:35:04 . . . Click Here To Mail this Poem to a Friend!

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MATRIARCH

She taught me my table manners, when to lay my cards on the table and how to play them, long before we moved to table mesa. She taught me to tie my shoestrings, tie up loose ends and what to do when  you are tied up in knots. Even though sometimes I made her, fit to be tied. She taught me wrong from right, and how to write. (Illegible as that still may be) The eternal importance of reading and the power of thought. She introduced me to an all-knowing, non-judgmental God, the religion of compassion, caring and kindness, that’s still inside me. She taught me to respect my elders even though now, I am one. To care for those who  have less than me and to abhor cruelty in any form. She shared her affinity for the birds that today, I cannot stop watching. Showing me how their dedication can teach us  real family values. She warned me of evil but evil must be learned individually. Her words of wisdom were always true, the hole through which you give is the same hole through which you’ll receive- if you can handle the little things then the big ones will work themselves out. She was and is my advisor, counselor, consultant and best friend. She is my mother and there will never be another…

Copyright © October 2005 Mark D. Kilburn


This Poem was Critiqued By: Jennifer j Hill On Date: 2005-10-31 12:04:30
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 10.00000
Dear Mark, She sounds like a keeper. This tribute to your mother is awesome. I'm sure your mother was beaming when you should this to her. Theres's much to like about this piece, Mark. For instance this reader enjoys the intersting repitition of table/tie/right/write and intertwining these words into the lessons she taught you. I feel like you have a great(possibly unique) relationship with your mother but also, in this piece are the lessons moms teach and I have a feeling even though it is unique to this beloved relationship between her and you, it is still a poem other may relate to. I especially like your ending. and all the stuff inbetween. Thanks for sharing a very personal part of what makes you who you are. Blessings, Jennifer


This Poem was Critiqued By: Joanne M Uppendahl On Date: 2005-10-25 20:31:43
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 10.00000
Mark: It’s great to see a poem of yours once more. I love this tribute to the woman who taught you so much, and who must feel much honored by this fine work. It has the warmth I have come to expect from your poetry, and is beautifully crafted as well. The nicest feature, in my opinion, is that you write this to her while she is still living. As a personal aside, one of the things I will never regret is that I wrote a letter to my father one Valentine’s Day, telling him all of the things I had stored in my heart. We both cried when he read it. It was one of those moments in life which you know at the time is a milestone. Your poem reminds me and others to tell our loved ones how much we care for them and why. You soften it with humor, which keeps it from becoming too sentimental? In short, I really love this poem! More specifically: "She taught me my table manners, when to lay my cards on the table and how to play them, long before we moved to table mesa." There is much wit and wordplay with ‘table’ throughout S1. I can’t read this and not smile. "Even though sometimes I made her, fit to be tied." Your warm humor informs this poem. I especially like the last line above. How many times have we done this to our parents! I can only imagine the kinds of things you may have done as a child to make her “fit to be tied.” For me, they were things like bringing toads and lizards into the house and letting them loose. I won’t go into more, it would be too embarrassing. Ok, one incident. And that’s it! I made a ‘dummy’ once of gardening clothes and pillows, and spread the resulting realistic-looking person across the front lawn, with a spade in her gloves, her face to the lawn, kerchief askew. Tires screeched in front of our house. I was not old enough to know better, but a good artist with old clothes. That was the last time I did anything like that! "The eternal importance of reading and the power of thought." This will no doubt stir memories for other readers of who introduced them to the love of the written word, and “the power of thought.” "the religion of compassion, caring and kindness, that’s still inside me." That is evident here, and I’m certain that it is a great comfort to her that you internalized these values. "She taught me to respect my elders even though now, I am one." – funny how that happens! <smile> She shared her affinity for the birds that today, I cannot stop watching. – How wonderful! Now I know who to thank – pass it on to her. "She was and is my advisor, counselor, consultant and best friend. She is my mother and there will never be another…" I have read finer tribute to a mother than this above. And wise is the son or daughter who recognizes that appreciation is the best possible gift to give a parent in return. Kudos! Standing ovation for your dear mother, Mark, and for the poem. Best wishes always, Joanne
This Poem was Critiqued By: Turner Lee Williams On Date: 2005-10-24 22:48:06
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 10.00000
Mark–-Veneration is at its best in this tribute to mothers. Scribe has deftly used a combination of literal and figurative language to provide many images/examples of sage life lessons given by his “Matriarch.” Furthermore, each series of items presented in this List/History Poem readily serve as sentiments reader(s) can easily identify with. Although all stanzas are pertinent parental instructions/directions, my favorite phrase is; “She was and is my advisor, counselor, consultant and best friend. She is my mother and there will never be another…” These four lines embodies the theme of this tribute and poignantly indicates scribe’s heartfelt devotion to his “Mother.” Thanks for sharing this well written piece with fellow TPLers. TLW
This Poem was Critiqued By: Dellena Rovito On Date: 2005-10-22 19:00:23
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 10.00000
MARK, I love this soooo uplifting poem abut your mother. I would wish that my children would think as much of me! Her words of wisdom were always true, the hole through which you give is the same hole through which you’ll receive-[love this/how wise!] if you can handle the little things then the big ones will work themselves out.[so true/thank you] She was and is my advisor, counselor, consultant and best friend. She is my mother and there will never be another…[you are so blessed] I think this would be great for Mothers day! he taught me my table manners,when to lay my cards on the table[meaning not only cards] and how to play them,long before we moved to table mesa. She taught me to tie my shoestrings,tie up loose ends and what to do when[wonderful] you are tied up in knots.Even though sometimes I made her,fit to be tied.[I'm sure of this] She taught me wrong from right, reading and the power of thought.[hard to do] She introduced me to an all-knowing,non-judgmental God,[most do not] the religion of compassion, caring and kindness, that’s still inside me.[you must be wonderful too] She taught me to respect my elders even though now, I am one.[doesn't seem taught anymore] To care for those who have less than me and to abhor cruelty in any form. She shared her affinity for the birds that today, I cannot stop watching. Showing me how their dedication can teach us real family values.[yup] I tend to think your mom was very mature, most moms are still children themselves. Upon losing a dear family member, you're looking at the loved ones remaining from a different view. Wonderful-life enhancing poem. Very well done Mark. Dellena
This Poem was Critiqued By: Mell W. Morris On Date: 2005-10-21 10:13:18
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 10.00000
Mark, How grand to see a posting by you and a grand posting it is. I have missed you but am still extremely ill. Most of my time is in bed. Somehow, I'm certain you know all about pain and how to deal with it. Your title is cold compared to your poem which is a salute to your mother. You use a delightful word play throughout. For example in stanza 2, She taught you to TIE your shoestrings, TIE loose ends, TIED up in knots, fit to be TIED. A very clever weaving of one concept...TIE. Other phrases that are pleasing to me include: "wrong from right and how to write." "the religion of compassion" she taught poet to "respect my elders even though now, I am one." She showed her interest in birds and today, you watch them. (Very special line as I share your mother's affinity for birds.) Handle little things and the big ones will work themseves out. You end your poem with praise for your mother, the last four lines are encomium, beautifully phrased. Your poem has something for everyone and seems poignant, plangent, and deftly done. This piece is more sophisticated than your other pieces albeit your nature poems, published weekly or monthly were powerful. I'm really sick and have two typos per line! BTW, if you need credits since you've been sick and away so long, send me the yada/yada that is printed out in the instructions by Chris. You have lifted my spirits, appearing from out of the blue. Great love poem for your mother...it just doesn't get better than this! Bravo! Mell
This Poem was Critiqued By: marilyn terwilleger On Date: 2005-10-20 14:21:51
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 10.00000
Hi Mark, What a wonderful tribute to your Mom...I can imagine the joy this poem as brought to her. I like the way you have used a play on words in the first stanzas...very effective and I knew you were speaking of your mother because she tried to teach you all the things that mothers attempt to instill in their children. We only get one chance to raise our children and if we don't do it right the first time we don't get a second chance. Your last stanza is especially poignant and I love....the hole through which you give is the same hole through which you'll receive...that is a wonderful thought and so full of wisdom. There is a lot to be said for aging...even though it is not something any of us want to do...but with age comes a certain amount of understanding and thoughtfulness that is wasted on youth. I know I see things in a much different light than I did when I was young and the little things that go wrong in life rarely bother me. I only worry about the big things and if I can't change them by worrying about them I try not to do that...but if I know how to correct the problems or to make a difference I do that to. For you to say that your mother is your best friend is the most loving compliment a child can give a parent! Great poem and I am so glad I didn't miss it! Peace...Marilyn
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