Laid To Rest

Today I saw a daughter laid to rest.
A mother tries to heed her own advice.
Holding it in surely put her to the test.
She failed more than once or twice.
Her failing was no artificial device.
She tried, Lord how hard she tried.
She simply could not pay the price.
She cried, oh how the mother cried.

She was a fifth grade teacher, the best.
The kids all sought her out for advice.
Fifty Eight, so young but so blessed,
too young, to pay this enormous price,
too old to fashion protective gneiss. 
Her mother knew of this fierce pride.
Yet, she couldn’t save her baby’s life.
She cried, oh how the mother cried.

The building now full, still they pressed,
her former students, learning pain of life.
From one loved, who had faced the test,
and had not complained about sacrifice.
While a mother mortally wounded twice
who faced this when her husband died
hopes to God she will not see this thrice.
She cried, oh how the mother cried

The mother, paying the mother’s price, 
before her eyes could have fully dried.            
With more than enough love to suffice,   
she cried, and oh how the mother cried. 

For Catie's ballade contest
Feb 22, 2011

Copyright © | Year Posted 2011



Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Date: 3/13/2011 2:12:00 PM
Told you, you'd win BIG HUGS! congrad's!!! Light & Love [an admirer]
Login to Reply
Date: 3/10/2011 8:40:00 PM
a somber mood that combines spirituality and relaity with such grace, charles... best cheers for the great win! ..:) huggs, nette
Login to Reply
Date: 3/10/2011 4:43:00 PM
Congratulations on your win with this lovely Ballade. Caryl
Login to Reply
Date: 3/10/2011 2:31:00 PM
Sad but moving tale you have penned in this write, Charles. Congrats on the win
Login to Reply
Date: 3/10/2011 9:28:00 AM
This has to go to my favorites Charles. Congratulations on your win in Catie's contest. Love, Carol
Login to Reply
Date: 3/10/2011 8:54:00 AM
Such a sad story behind this poem, Charles. My grandmother outlived my mother and kept asking God why he hadn't taken her first. I can feel the deep loss of the crying mother. Excellent ballade! Congratulations on your win. Love, Carolyn
Login to Reply
Date: 3/10/2011 8:38:00 AM
Heart-Wrenching Ballade, Charles. Many congrat's on your BIG WIN. Lainie
Login to Reply
Date: 3/10/2011 8:08:00 AM
Congratulations LCharles on your win with this sad ballad. Lovely and epathetic. Love, Joyce
Login to Reply
Date: 3/10/2011 7:18:00 AM
Congrats Charles on your big win in Catie's contest with this superb Ballade entry ..enjoy with luv..
Login to Reply
Date: 2/26/2011 1:50:00 PM
hard subject gently approached great true refrain worth the repetition, surely a winner. Light & Love
Login to Reply
Date: 2/23/2011 12:23:00 PM
I truly enjoyed reading this wonderfully written Ballade. Good luck in the contest. Caryl
Login to Reply
Date: 2/22/2011 8:49:00 AM
Very sad Charles. Good luck in the contest. Love, Joyce
Login to Reply
Date: 2/22/2011 2:45:00 AM
This is well written..good luck in the contest
Login to Reply
Get a Premium Membership
Get more exposure for your poetry and more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Reflection on the Important Things

Member Area

My Admin
Profile and Settings
Edit My Poems
Edit My Quotes
Edit My Short Stories
Edit My Articles
My Comments Inboxes
My Comments Outboxes
Soup Mail
Poetry Contests
Contest Results/Status
Followers
Poems of Poets I Follow
Friend Builder

Soup Social

Poetry Forum
New/Upcoming Features
The Wall
Soup Facebook Page
Who is Online
Link to Us

Member Poems

Poems - Top 100 New
Poems - Top 100 All-Time
Poems - Best
Poems - by Topic
Poems - New (All)
Poems - New (PM)
Poems - New by Poet
Poems - Read
Poems - Unread

Member Poets

Poets - Best New
Poets - New
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems Recent
Poets - Top 100 Community
Poets - Top 100 Contest

Famous Poems

Famous Poems - African American
Famous Poems - Best
Famous Poems - Classical
Famous Poems - English
Famous Poems - Haiku
Famous Poems - Love
Famous Poems - Short
Famous Poems - Top 100

Famous Poets

Famous Poets - Living
Famous Poets - Most Popular
Famous Poets - Top 100
Famous Poets - Best
Famous Poets - Women
Famous Poets - African American
Famous Poets - Beat
Famous Poets - Cinquain
Famous Poets - Classical
Famous Poets - English
Famous Poets - Haiku
Famous Poets - Hindi
Famous Poets - Jewish
Famous Poets - Love
Famous Poets - Metaphysical
Famous Poets - Modern
Famous Poets - Punjabi
Famous Poets - Romantic
Famous Poets - Spanish
Famous Poets - Suicidal
Famous Poets - Urdu
Famous Poets - War

Poetry Resources

Anagrams
Bible
Book Store
Character Counter
Cliché Finder
Poetry Clichés
Common Words
Copyright Information
Grammar
Grammar Checker
Homonym
Homophones
How to Write a Poem
Lyrics
Love Poem Generator
New Poetic Forms
Plagiarism Checker
Poetics
Poetry Art
Publishing
Random Word Generator
Spell Checker
Store
What is Good Poetry?
Word Counter
Hide Ad