A Mother's Ears

I sometimes feel a unique vibration within my own ears. My baby’s crying, calling from beneath his quilted, baby-blues. His sobs rustle the warm sheath of home. Before my mind reacts, my body is up, hastily tip-toeing into the nightlight’s calming glow of a cow jumping over the moon. Outside a soggy, spring night splatters under streetlights like urban art. A steady rhythm of flowing rain beats down on puddled pavements. My baby’s cries reverberate as they reach that instinctual part of me, somewhere deep within my diaphragm and through my heart. A mother’s astute ears know the subtle variations of her own children’s breath in sleep…I hurry to the shadows of my baby’s crib to find him curled up, eyes still closed; little whimpers and groans escape from his open lips…a bad dream, I realize. I gently rub his back, shushing away all that disturbs his peace, and I wonder about a child’s impressionable mind… what intrusions of an innocent day could bring a bellowed anguish to the sweet dreams of a carefree boy not yet two? I listen to him tumble in and out of his fear until his breath is a tranquil hum… only then, do I hear the music of an early morning’s falling rain.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2015

Poem

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Gasun Avatar
May 28, 2015 at 11:41 AM
Congratulations on your excellent poem and super win my dear friend, Rhonda! I love and thoroughly enjoyed reading your poem tonight. Thank you so much for sharing! love lots and big hugs, Leonora
Haight Avatar
May 26, 2015 at 1:58 PM
Hi Rhonda, congratulations on your fine win for your awesome 'a mother's ears' poem! Every loving mother can identify with your words! Hugs, Sandra
A   Avatar
May 22, 2015 at 1:01 PM
Rhonda, Congratulations on your win. Awesome entry for Craig's "A Mother's Ears" contest. Have a great day. LINDA
Marcum Wong Avatar
May 19, 2015 at 1:43 PM
Rhonda, I am back to tell you how happy I am to see this beauty in first place. Big congrats!
A  Avatar
May 19, 2015 at 9:19 AM
Rhonda, Congratulations on your win. Have a nice day. SKAT
Lawless Avatar
May 18, 2015 at 10:20 PM
Rhonda, a mother's ears are attuned to her children vibrating in unison as tuning forks. Amazingly vivid write. Well deserved win.
Ebbs Avatar
May 18, 2015 at 10:15 PM
Congrats Rhonda!
Richards Avatar
May 18, 2015 at 7:41 PM
Everything here is so true to motherhood, and fearing until his tranquil breath is even, is who I have always been as a mother. I identify with every word! Beautiful !!
Allison Avatar
May 18, 2015 at 3:54 PM
Dropping back with my congrats Rhonda:-) Hugs Jan xx
Sirak Avatar
May 17, 2015 at 7:33 AM
this one fairly sings with the power of a mother's love! I absolutely love the ending..we want to protect our children, keep the bad things away...and to realize when they are still so young that our wish is not really possible. The last two lines are perfect...only when we are sure of our children, can we breathe again.
Dietrich Avatar
May 10, 2015 at 2:55 PM
Rhonda, you and i were on the same page with THIS challenge. But of course, yours I think was better!! I had up to 25 lines and realized he said approximately 20 and cut off my old ending but I bet it's ok to go over the limit since he did not set it in stone. I just love this.
Johnson-Saunders Avatar
May 10, 2015 at 9:09 PM
Thanks, Andrea. My poem was 33 lines. I condensed it and made some lines longer to get down to the 20. I'm going over to read your poem soon. I'm sure it's GREAT!!
A  Avatar
May 10, 2015 at 12:04 PM
Rhonda, this is a special day for the world. Love the poem. Have a nice day. Forever *SKAT*
Johnson-Saunders Avatar
May 10, 2015 at 9:07 PM
Hi SKAT...thanks for the visit. I always appreciate your kind comments, and I hope you had a beautiful Mother's Day! Hugs :))
Smith Avatar
May 10, 2015 at 10:19 AM
How beautiful...the love for your child is placed above all...Happy Mother's Day
Johnson-Saunders Avatar
May 10, 2015 at 9:05 PM
Hi, Tim...thanks for visiting with your warm comments and Mother's Day wishes. I hope you had a nice day with your wife and family...hugs :))
Trichet Avatar
May 10, 2015 at 4:40 AM
Wow Rhonda, straight from the heart, which beats for one's own flesh and blood (I'm sure). Truly inspirational write and best wishes...
Johnson-Saunders Avatar
May 10, 2015 at 9:04 PM
Hi, Mark...thanks you for the visit and kind comments. Sorry I haven't been around much, but I will get by to your pages soon. Hugs :))
Manassian Avatar
May 10, 2015 at 2:15 AM
Oh Rhonda....I was moved by this write. You are an amazing mother...and writer!!! You drew me along your lines. So beautifully penned. :) I am a very heavy sleeper, but....my daughter's slightest cry would always wake me. I loved every line...It's hard to pick what touched me the most, but....My baby’s crying, calling from beneath his quilted, baby-blues. His sobs rustle the warm sheath of home. Serenity...also, the wondering about what could be causing him his disturbing dream...amazing write.
Johnson-Saunders Avatar
May 10, 2015 at 9:02 PM
Thanks, Eileen...your comment touched my heart today! I'm happy to have a visit from you and to see you have new poems posted. I've been on Soup very little lately, but I will be by to visit. Happy Mother's Day! Hugs :))
Marcum Wong Avatar
May 9, 2015 at 6:43 PM
What a wonderful mother you are Rhonda. This poem is so beautiful it brought out great emotion from my heart and a lump in my throat! I wish all mothers could be like you! Love, Connie I am fav'ing this one! 7+
Johnson-Saunders Avatar
May 10, 2015 at 8:59 PM
Thanks for the visit, Connie, and the fav! I'm always honored when someone places one of my poems on their favorites list. Sorry I haven't been on Soup much, but I will come visit soon. Happy Mother's Day!
Allison Avatar
May 9, 2015 at 3:42 PM
such incredible imagery Rhonda this is such a charming write - good luck in the contest:-) Hugs Jan xx 7 xx
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