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Hidden Beauty

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Her smile was lopsided, crooked And her eyes had lost their shine In a wheelchair bound and broken Sat this mother dear of mine Once the one that they called “Sunshine” Now was bowed with grief and care Garbled speech and eyes unfocused Made the people stop and stare Yet in this woman there was hidden Beauty of the rarest kind Love for God and for her family Love for words all graced her mind She was brave and she was noble Took the falls and burns and smiled Knowing that her child, a daughter Lived with fear so justified People did not see the beauty Hidden in her crumpled form All that they could show was pity Perhaps that is just the norm But in her dear withered body MS had so brutalized Was a mother’s lasting beauty That her daughter eulogized Once a flower brightly blooming In the garden of my home She remains my flower ever In the memories where I roam Eileen Manassian I grew up knowing my mother was ill and that she would eventually die due to MS. I lost my Mama on March 19, 2000. I still miss her...Her name? Angel. That was my Mama's name. When she was younger, they used to call her Sunshine because of her dazzling smile.... More poems I've written about my Mama: http://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/may_17_429673 http://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/my_mothers_daughter_480741 http://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/march_19__464436 http://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/i_remember_you_443028 http://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/the_hypochondriac_429384

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Shane Cooper

Date: 4/20/2015 10:56:00 PM

Beautiful tribute to your mother little one, i know from what you told me of her that she would be proud of you getting your masters degree, and especially of your poetry. I am guessing that it is from her you and Shereen get your wonderful smiles. love, Shane xxx

Rhonda Johnson-Saunders

Date: 2/15/2015 6:22:00 PM

The beauty of a mother's love outshines all else, and though she was strong, I'm sure your mom found deeper strength with you by her side. This poem is more than beautiful...I wish you had entered it in my Hidden Beauty contest. It's more than a winner...hugs, Rhonda

Justin Bordner

Date: 1/26/2015 6:47:00 PM

"She was brave and she was noble..." you have her gifts within you...you have her smile upon you Eileen...a priceless tribute...J.A.B.

Eileen Manassian
Date: 1/27/2015 12:32:00 AM

You make that smile bloom. Thank you, My Eagle. It's always good when you take the time to breathe beauty into my life.

Justin Bordner

Date: 1/26/2015 6:46:00 PM

"She was brave and she was noble..." you have her gifts within you...you have her smile upon you Eileen...a priceless tribute...J.A.B.

Eileen Manassian
Date: 1/27/2015 12:41:00 AM

Two posts.... ;) Double the joy!!!

Liam Mcdaid

Date: 1/26/2015 1:20:00 PM

this eileen deep touching beautiful pen brought tears to my eyes dear pal bless you powerful piece

Eileen Manassian
Date: 1/26/2015 1:22:00 PM

I'm thinking of you, Liam....Please be strong. If you need help...drop by and visit. You know where to find me. Hugs

Paul Callus

Date: 1/25/2015 2:11:00 PM

I am touched, Eileen. Although I had read about your mother before, this poem still managed to get to me. This is indeed hidden beauty. How can one forget!! She will forever be in the memories w(h)ere you roam. And yes...she would have been very very proud of you! Hugs // paul

Eileen Manassian
Date: 1/25/2015 2:22:00 PM

Thank you, Paul! :) How very sweet of you....Remember you PS....Last time...Well, ;) ;) Hugs!!!! Thanks for the subtle correction. You are a darling man.

Richard Lamoureux

Date: 1/25/2015 9:22:00 AM

She passed the dazzle and Sunshine on to you! This is a beautiful dedication and memorial to your mom. I am greatly moved Eileen. Hugs dear one.

Eileen Manassian
Date: 1/25/2015 1:22:00 PM

Richard....you are dear to my heart. Thanks ever so much for this superb post. Nothing could make me happier than to be compared to my Mama. You would have liked her...and she would have loved you. :) HUGS

Tim Smith

Date: 1/25/2015 7:43:00 AM

Amazing piece about your most amazing mother... She shines brightly through you and I can only imagine in you...those memories are priceless and her love carries on in you...hugs Tim

Eileen Manassian
Date: 1/25/2015 1:23:00 PM

Thanks, Tim. This is a lovely and sweet post. I so appreciate it. Those were very difficult years seeing my Mama slowly be lost to me...There were days when a haze covered her eyes and I knew I couldn't reach her. We have hope for a better world to come. Thanks for the visit. Hugs

Casarah Nance

Date: 1/25/2015 7:18:00 AM

Aww. This was so wonderful. I love how much you loved your mom and you still do. I can tell she has made the world a brighter place, and so do you by sharing your words with us. Hugsxxx

Eileen Manassian
Date: 1/25/2015 1:25:00 PM

Awwww....thanks, Cas. So sweet of you to say that. Yes, Mama was well loved...the church was packed at her funeral. She touched many lives. I'm glad I can be here with all of you...Thanks, sweetie. You're very kind.

Demetrios Trifiatis

Date: 1/25/2015 4:44:00 AM

Your poem brought tears to my eyes for it brought to mind when as a child witnessed the death of my father and my mother! Only when have been through terrible situations as you so brilliantly you have described with your verses then and only then one comes close to realize the pain and agony you have been through! Love, however, having no body of its own its not affected my any MS and shines through the heart and mind of the sufferer. A seven with all my heart dear, Eileen! God rest her soul!

Eileen Manassian
Date: 1/25/2015 5:44:00 AM

My dear poet, I will never forget the day when I was looking at her searching as a young woman, and she said to me, "You're afraid I'm going to die, aren't you?" I could not answer. All I did was throw myself in her arms and we both cried. I saw her with blood splattered night gown from the time she had fallen. I saw her with burned face. I saw her in a walker, and finally a wheelchair unable to care for her own needs. I heard her pray for death. Yet, she never lost her faith. I still miss her. :) She would have liked you, my dear poet. Thank you for the love and care you show me. I'm touched.

Charmaine Chircop

Date: 1/25/2015 1:22:00 AM

Eileen ,When one is blessed with such hidden beauty like your mum's...That kind of beauty is the beauty of the soul.The beauty of the skin will age,we might be like a flower that withers,dies..But that beauty of the soul is forever living in others ..and I can still feel the beauty of your mum's soul, in your loving heart. Eileen that hidden beauty of faith and love of hers towards others is now revealed in you..Like the tree the fruit...I favour this cause its beautiful and cuz it honours your mother x

Eileen Manassian
Date: 1/25/2015 5:46:00 AM

Thank you, Charmaine. I hope to be the kind of woman she saw in me. I am very much like her in so many ways. She loved the classics and taught English. She was loved by her students. She was jolly and had a sense of humor. She could be naughty too. :) She was always grateful for love people showed her during her illness. I'm God called her when she could bear no more. She is at rest. Thank you, my sweet, for your love and friendship. God bless you.

Leo Larry Amadore

Date: 1/24/2015 7:46:00 PM

Very touching!

Eileen Manassian
Date: 1/25/2015 12:54:00 AM

Thank you, Leo. I've written many poems about my Mother....If you are interested in reading more, you can look up May 17 in my poem titles. Mom and I celebrated our birthdays together. Hers was on the 17th and mine on the 18th. :( Life is difficult, but I know that a better day is coming...Thanks for the visit.

Arthur Vaso

Date: 1/24/2015 6:31:00 PM

This is just to lovely and sweet, when we see the inside, we see true beauty, its not so much hidden as people today often seem to be blind. Hugs

Eileen Manassian
Date: 1/25/2015 12:56:00 AM

Thanks, Arthur. You are kind. Not everyone is. In the Middle East...people with handicaps are not so well received. We'd often get stares because of the wheelchair and her coughing spells. It was hard to see this beautiful woman become ostracized because of her illness. Thank you for your visit. I've put some more links, at the bottom of my poem, to some more poems I've written about her if you want to get a better picture of ma Mama. Hugs

Ilene Bauer

Date: 1/24/2015 4:45:00 PM

a beautiful tribute to your mother, eileen. she would have loved this and so do i!

Eileen Manassian
Date: 1/25/2015 5:47:00 AM

:) Yes, I believe she would have been proud of this one. She always thought I had talent. She even asked me to sign my work with my maiden name... I do that now...In honor of her request. Thanks for your friendship and love. Mothers are precious. I miss mine.

Jan Allison

Date: 1/24/2015 4:19:00 PM

Eileen this is an outstanding tribute to the mum you so adored - am making it a fave and a 7 of course - good luck in the contest

Eileen Manassian
Date: 1/25/2015 5:49:00 AM

:) Thank you, Jan. I was too late to enter it into the contest, but it doesn't matter. My Mama deserves this tribute. I've written many poems about her. I have many unpublished ones as well. The hardest thing what Mama passed away was to realize that I could no longer pray about her. I believe God knows what's best and I have to rest in the knowledge that she will be saved for she loved God with all her heart. Thank you for the visit and post, my dear. I know you are struggling as well. May He give you strength.

Tim Ryerson

Date: 1/24/2015 3:12:00 PM

'Angel'...Perfect name for this wonderful, anointed lady you were blessed by God to call your mother...I say that because of course, she is truly a dazzling, immortal Angel now and because of this beautiful and elegant tribute, her beauty is no longer hidden...Thank you dear lady - Tim

Eileen Manassian
Date: 1/25/2015 5:58:00 AM

Yes...I love those verses in Revelation. Praise God for the hope we have in Jesus. Because He overcame death, we have the hope of overcoming it in His name....then DEATH itself shall die. I love the poem by John Donne...Death, be not proud though some have called thee mighty and dreadful....and it ends with One sleep past and we raise eternally, DEATH, THOU SHALT DIE"..

Eileen Manassian
Date: 1/25/2015 5:56:00 AM

Oh Tim...you sure know how to bring joy to someone's heart. Thanks ever so much. :) My belief system differs a bit from yours. I believe that Mama is sleeping and will be called awake when Jesus comes again. The Bible calls death a sleep, and says that the dead know nothing. All this time that passes, is nothing to her. Just like when we sleep at night and next thing you know...it's morning. Thessalonians says that those who are asleep in Christ will rise first at the Second Coming and then we who are alive and remain will be caught up with them in the clouds and then we will all go to heaven together! :) I love the thought of the reunion day. What kind of heaven would it be if Mama were up there seeing me go through pain and sorrow. We will go together into heaven when Jesus comes. She will be healthy then, not bent and wheelchair bound...FOR WE SHALL BE CHANGED! :)

Tim Ryerson
Date: 1/24/2015 3:23:00 PM

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: For the former things are passed away" Revelation 21:4