L Milton Hankins Poet Rhyme

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 April 4, 2021 at 2:46 PM Well written, a legacy by a legacy. Thank you for that, a pure and perfect pleasure to ponder and appreciate! L Milton Hankins April 4, 2021 at 3:01 PM Thanks so much, Bryan. I certainly do appreciate your visit and your kind remarks.

Carolyn Devonshire April 3, 2021 at 8:42 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 April 3, 2021 at 9:02 AM Have a very enjoyable Easter with family, Carolyn.

Paula Goldsmith April 2, 2021 at 12:26 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 April 2, 2021 at 2:15 PM I appreciate your thoughts, Paula. Thank you so much.

Krish Radhakrishna April 2, 2021 at 7:33 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 April 2, 2021 at 8:06 AM Thanks so much, Krish. It was a joyful, reminiscent write. I appreciate your kind remarks so much.

Regina Mcintosh April 2, 2021 at 4:10 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 April 2, 2021 at 8:07 AM Gina, your comments are so kind and thoughtful and heartwarming for me. Thanks for your read.

Kim Merryman March 30, 2021 at 10:14 AM Thank you for pointing me to this lovely poem, Milton! Such sweet memories! blessings, Kim M L Milton Hankins March 30, 2021 at 11:23 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 March 7, 2021 at 8:15 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 March 7, 2021 at 9:34 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 March 6, 2021 at 3:35 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 March 6, 2021 at 7:54 PM Thanks, Marcela. Yes, some of it strikes a chord in my childhood, but I used literary license, to be sure.

Evelyn Judy Buehler March 6, 2021 at 12:01 PM A beautiful tribute, presented in a pleasing rhyme. It recalls memories of my own mother, who also wrote. :) L Milton Hankins March 6, 2021 at 7:55 PM Thanks, Evelyn. It was a pleasure to write, and I'm glad it was meaningful to you and, hopefully, others.