Within Her Hands
As May is the month for honoring mothers, including Mary, the Mother of God, Mother of all the living in Christ, I’m sharing a poem that I wrote a few years ago for my own hard-working, devoted, talented, and generous mother. This post continues my exploration of poetry, so any and all comments and suggestions/corrections are greatly appreciated.
Mama
Within her hands, now rough and worn,
A little girl once held the morn,
Once swept the stars and shook the tree,
And played with possibility.
Then clutching fists could only pray
When hopeful dreamings slipped away,
And learn to beat and dig and tear,
To toughen skin and smother care.
And yet, within her hands I find
The strength to live outside my mind;
The world she formed with blood and pain
Has housed a little girl again—
Misshapen, yes, and less than planned,
But never lost within her hand.
© 2019 Christina Chase
Photo by Natalya Letunova on Unsplash
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Christina Chase View All
Although crippled by disease, I'm fully alive in love. I write about the terrible beauty and sacred wonder of life, while living with physical disability and severe dependency. A revert to the Catholic faith through atheism, I'm not afraid to ask life's big questions. I explore what it means to be fully human through my weekly blog and have written a book: It's Good to Be Here, published by Sophia Institute Press.
Christina Chase 
Brilliant!
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Ah, Christina, as I read this, I felt a tear slip down my cheek and I realized you could wring tears from a rock! I’ve spent the last half hour thinking of my own sweet mama and how her gnarled, bent hands, once soft and smooth, guided me through a difficult childhood and beyond. Your poetry digs down into the reader’s soul and allows sweet memories, and gratitude, to surface. Your mom is so blessed to have such a lovely and grateful daughter!
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If I am lovely, then it’s because my mother and father sacrificed with great love — and their love is why I’m a grateful daughter. I’m glad that your mama raised you well and is with you still in your mind, heart, and life. Think how soft her hands will be again…
You are a blessing to me, Sioux!
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