Hope I Do This Too

My mother went door to door on a daily basis Collecting money for Mr. Sim’s wife’s funeral flowers or for a present for Tad and Betty’s newborn baby girl When I am older, I hope I do this too My mother hung her clothes out on a line Where they turned stiff as a desktop in the wind The other neighbor ladies ran out at the same time to talk to her When I am older, I hope I do this too My mother baked pies, cakes and cookies in the morning. In summer she gardened– snapping peas and shucking corn. In winter she brought out the watermelon jelly she made in summer When I am older, I hope I do this too My mother gave her time to the church on Wednesdays and Sundays She was one of four ladies in charge of all of the funeral dinners Because no one else would step up and do it like they would When I am older, I hope I do this too My mother was the quintessential volunteer. She was our room mother every year at school. Because if I did not volunteer her, my identical twin would. I hope I will volunteer time and talents like my mother always did.