Gershon Wolf Poet Free verse

My Poor Mom -- Can You Imagine

My Wife did her homework.
She called my sister, who lived near my Mom on the coast.

"What kind of flowers does your Mom like?"
"Oh, she likes roses.  Red ones.  Whenever there are flowers in the house,
they're red roses."
My poor Wife bought my Mom a special bouquet of roses -- $62.34, including delivery...    

"Do you like 'em, Mom?  
"Like what?"
"Your present, Mom."
"What present?"  What are you talking about?"  I don't need your
 presents." Click.

My wife looked at me, her eyes saying, "What did I do wrong?"  
My look answered hers, "My poor Mom.  No one understands her."
Can you imagine?
My Mother never even answered the door.
The flowers withered on the porch.

                                    ********                         
My poor Mom.  No one understands her.
Her kids just won't leave well enough alone.
They bug her because she's never met the grandkids.  

"Don't you get it? How many times do I have to tell you?  I'm in no condition to receive visitors.  I look terrible.  I'm overweight.  My hair's turned gray.  I'm all bent over now.  I'm having  trouble moving in the morning and I'm not much better by midday either. I'm frankly cranky much of the time.  And I have my daily routine.  I've got  to get my swim in, and my stock market research..."
"Mom, we're gonna send you something special this Mother's Day.  We 
hope you'll like it."
 "But I don't need anything special.  I don't want anything special.  I don't
 want ANYTHING!"
 "Yeah, Mom, but---'
 "But nothing! I told you that I don't want any Mother's Day presents.  You're
 my son.  You need to respect my wishes."
 "Sure, Mom. Sure.  So, about those stocks, Mom..."
 "...And then they went ahead anyway and got me those flowers.  Wasted all
 that money. And my son had said, "Sure, Mom." So, he lied to me.  "I'm 
 telling you those kids just don't get it..."

My poor Mom.  No one understands her...
"And THEY'RE going around with THEIR feelings hurt?!" 
Can you imagine?

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Susan Gentry April 9, 2018 at 11:56 PM An interesting dialogue... So hard to let people be who they are, especially in families it seems. Well done! Gershon Wolf April 10, 2018 at 11:57 AM Thank you, Susan. Hope the poem was as spot-on as your perceptive comment---"especially in families," as you noted: Much wisdom there, (along with the anguish). The solution, if I may venture one, seems to be to give people some space,...and not just to tolerate differences, but to see them as strengths. Anyway, it's getting a little deep for me here. Thanks for the visit, as always. Best wishes, Gershon

Line Gauthier April 8, 2018 at 9:07 PM A fun read yet makes us think about how really different people are. Frank discussions necessary, then letting go at some point however difficult. Well expressed, Gershon, in this very endearing poem. Gershon Wolf April 8, 2018 at 9:12 PM --The proverbial two sides of the coin, eh? Thank you for reading this one and 'staying with it,' as it was a bit long and perhaps a bit overdone. (At least, I thought so). Best always, :) Gershon Gershon Wolf April 8, 2018 at 9:12 PM --The proverbial two sides of the coin, eh? Thank you for reading this one and 'staying with it,' as it was a bit long and perhaps a bit overdone. (At least, I thought so). Best always, :) Gershon