A Daughter's Tribute

Upon the day when I was new You held me at your breast, And from that day love did accrue For both I do attest. You brought me to a place unknown With slates of painted wood, Where cheerful circus themes were flown Above my neighborhood. We seemed to nest for hours At night in satin blanket trim, My curious nature flowered While yours eyes grew tired and dim. The bears and clowns did entertain Those few and fleeting days, Until my innocent domain Had overstayed its phase. For soon the crawling was replaced With awkward stepping feet, A challenge you had bravely faced Without fear of defeat. Sweet infancy was soon eclipsed By toddler nonchalance, For “I can’t like it” pursed my lips With every smug response. You bore the brunt of childish acts With ever loving ease, Till school time called for pink backpacks And alphabet expertise. Soon Girl Scouts meetings filled your time And clarinet your ears, For you would plunk down every dime To see me enjoy those years. But then the teenage years ensued When self-esteem is low, You lifted me from anxious moods When I had reached plateau. Our arguments were common then I thought myself all knowing, While you’d repeat to me often That I still had some growing. We made it through till high school’s end When college had arrived, You made sure that I would attend And my obstacles survived. Through crying phone calls in the night And stressful social scenes, You’d hug me with unyielding might; Upon you I could lean. When graduation finally came You looked so proud and calm, “I made it through!” I did proclaim, You knew it all along. I am grown and on my own, With life ahead of me, But through this piece I hope I’ve shown Just what you mean to me. For all the memories in the past My best friend you remain, And all the troubles we’ve surpassed Have not all been in vain. For through these times I have found An idol strong and true, And may I say, loud and profound, My idol, Mom, is you.