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Contents of Mama's Red-Ribboned Box

You wrote your deepest passionate thoughts, dear Mama, Odes, or a sonnet, penned without undue drama. I sang those lyrics many times, calling your name They were your legacy; never sounded the same As when you gathered us toddlers into your arms, And sang sweetly to us from your verses and psalms. Times together none of us can ever erase The resonance of your voice, the smile on your face. You wrote from your innermost being, dear Mama Losing you brought all of us children great trauma. We searched for comfort among your beautiful things Your hair ribbons, your pictures, your gold wedding rings, But nothing consoling was found among your frocks Like the pages you saved in your red-ribboned box. FIRST PLACE WINNER Written March 6, 2021 Submitted to "Poetry As Legacy" Contest Sponsored by Line Gautier

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Bryan Norton

Date: 4/4/2021 2:46:00 PM

Well written, a legacy by a legacy. Thank you for that, a pure and perfect pleasure to ponder and appreciate!

L Milton Hankins
Date: 4/4/2021 3:01:00 PM

Thanks so much, Bryan. I certainly do appreciate your visit and your kind remarks.

Carolyn Devonshire

Date: 4/3/2021 8:42:00 AM

I'm away now, but had to congratulate you on your First Place! Well done, Milton. Have a blessed Easter. I'm with family. Hugs, Carolyn

L Milton Hankins
Date: 4/3/2021 9:02:00 AM

Have a very enjoyable Easter with family, Carolyn.

Paula Goldsmith

Date: 4/2/2021 12:26:00 PM

Congratulations on your win. A wonderful story/write. What a tribute to your mother and many memories. Have a blessed day, weekend and Easter...................

L Milton Hankins
Date: 4/2/2021 2:15:00 PM

I appreciate your thoughts, Paula. Thank you so much.

Krish Radhakrishna

Date: 4/2/2021 7:33:00 AM

Milton, superb write! rhyme as couplets works very well and you have touched my heart with this! Congrats on Top win! no surprises there!

L Milton Hankins
Date: 4/2/2021 8:06:00 AM

Thanks so much, Krish. It was a joyful, reminiscent write. I appreciate your kind remarks so much.

Regina Mcintosh

Date: 4/2/2021 4:10:00 AM

Lovely write, I enjoyed reading this wonderful poem - so full of grace and promise, faith and light, insightful. Love it. God bless you and Congrats on your top win. Love and prayers, Gina

L Milton Hankins
Date: 4/2/2021 8:07:00 AM

Gina, your comments are so kind and thoughtful and heartwarming for me. Thanks for your read.

Kim Merryman

Date: 3/30/2021 10:14:00 AM

Thank you for pointing me to this lovely poem, Milton! Such sweet memories! blessings, Kim M

L Milton Hankins
Date: 3/30/2021 11:23:00 AM

You are so welcome, Kim. I hope these poems will help you do something special for your children and grandchildren. Every mom should have a special-ribbonned box!

Carolyn Devonshire

Date: 3/7/2021 8:15:00 AM

Of course, your mother's poetry should be saved and enjoyed by generations to come, Milton. What precious memories you have of them and the songs she sang to you. I have an old cassette tape of my father practicing for his band. I will never give it up or the old tape recorder I gave him to capture his music. Very touching, Milton. Best wishes, Carolyn

L Milton Hankins
Date: 3/7/2021 9:34:00 AM

Carolyn, there is another stanza to this poem which I left off for purposes of the contest, but I am going to submit it again with the additional stanza. Thanks so much for your encouraging comments. I interviewed my elderly grandmother on tapes and learned so much about our family history. Oral history is so important!

Marcela Proust

Date: 3/6/2021 3:35:00 PM

Is any of this real, as in true to your life? If so this is golden poetry; and if not, this is golden poetry. Thanks.

L Milton Hankins
Date: 3/6/2021 7:54:00 PM

Thanks, Marcela. Yes, some of it strikes a chord in my childhood, but I used literary license, to be sure.

Evelyn Judy Buehler

Date: 3/6/2021 12:01:00 PM

A beautiful tribute, presented in a pleasing rhyme. It recalls memories of my own mother, who also wrote. :)

L Milton Hankins
Date: 3/6/2021 7:55:00 PM

Thanks, Evelyn. It was a pleasure to write, and I'm glad it was meaningful to you and, hopefully, others.