Oatmeal Sunday Morning

I feigned taking a bite
attempting, of course, to convince her

oatmeal was yummy, "good for her"
necessary               etc.


I made rhymes of moons 
                                        and spoons

oats and boats,
little girls wearing coats


She smiled, but refused to take a bite
as she had nearly every day now
for                                                       months


I turned to reach a paper towel
to mop up the inevitable drips caught in the palm of my hand

spoons and cupped hands
they are the same thing, right?


I never heard a death rattle
of course, these old ears of mine...


The hospice nurse gently closed her eyes.


I said, "Goodbye Mother,"

and wondered how it had happened so quickly,
those sixty-nine years we shared.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2017



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Date: 8/22/2017 10:32:00 AM
Oh John I am so sorry for you loss. Enjoyed how the poem began by giving me the thought that you were feeding your child but it was your mother. The ending was sadI know that kind of loss.
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Lim'Rik Flats
Date: 8/23/2017 9:00:00 AM
Twas observed, not personally experienced, but I'm glad I caught the moment. Am honored by your many visits. Thanks! ~ john
Date: 7/10/2017 4:19:00 PM
IMPRESSED!!! You betcha kind sir! WHOOP WHOOP!!!
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Jack Ellison
Date: 7/26/2017 2:30:00 PM
NO NO NO!!! Not bored... just checking you out! After all it's a small payback for the many many times you visit my page! Got a lot of catching up to do! Pray I stick around long enough, dear friend!!! CHEERS JACKSON!!!
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Lim'Rik Flats
Date: 7/10/2017 6:18:00 PM
You must be bored if you're poking in my poem closet;-) Careful, never can tell what you might find in here:-) Thanks for the Whoop2!
Date: 7/3/2017 9:06:00 AM
Wow John; you had me fooled thinking it was a child….sad but touching write! My own 80 y/o Mom isn't doing well these days and is under my older sisters and a couple of days a week hospice care…thank God your poem was fictional!~Che :)
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Lim'Rik Flats
Date: 7/4/2017 7:41:00 AM
Thanks for stopping by Cheryl. Sorry to hear about your mom. Hugs ~ j
Date: 7/2/2017 11:00:00 AM
Oh gosh John I have tears here - what a tender moment you portray in this heartbreaking poem. It reminds me of how our parents tried to encourage us to eat our food when we were babies and it seems life does go full circle. :-( hugs jan xx
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Lim'Rik Flats
Date: 7/3/2017 8:24:00 AM
I have no idea where this came from, it just popped out...poof! Maybe my morning oatsmeal was spiked with something;-) Hugsniks ~ J
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