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The Mark of the Mother

" My mother shed her protective love around me and without knowing why, people sensed that I had value." ~Maya Angelou

" As mothers and daughters, we are connected with one another. My mother is the bones of my spine, keeping me straight and true. She is my blood, making sure it runs rich and strong. " ~Kristin Hannah

“ I hold three magic rocks, in my hand
Rolling them over and over and over
Leaving this reality behind, far behind"


Born female, and upon my brow the magic mark ,
 as my mother's mothers before me. 
Red pigmented and shaped like a broken heart,
the very heart of my story.
 
From generations of wombs and bloodlines before,
 I am chosen to take up these stones.
And being apart of this family, 
I am yet destined to be alone. 
 
The Amber, with whiskey color glowing within… 
 pumpkin tinged and power singed. 
Giving its wielder healing power and 
protection through the midnight hour.

The Sapphire stone, deepest indigo, 
as the depths of the ocean's foaming folds. 
Granting wisdom within it's warming light 
and discernment of truth, of wrong and right. 

And the third stone is a Ruby of red, 
whose clarity muddles the mind and clouds the head. 
Releasing passions once held in check, 
while you see clearly, their pulsing neck. 

Combined the three, passed down to me, 
from maternal bloodline flows. 
So now with these words and the heat of my hands,
 I part the veil to long ago...

Though darkly, I see, far back through time,
 this several great-great grandmother of mine. 
And watch as she, undeservedly, 
is made to lie in an early grave …
No knight in armour in this tale, 
Herself alone she must save. 

These stones that I now hold, she finds,
as in darkness they begin to shine. 
All air is gone, her breathing stops 
and the heart inside can beat no more.
Until the magic finds a home in a wronged woman's maternal core. 

Then hearing 
a weak pulse,
 somehow 
MISPLACED...
upon her brow I see
the red- pigmented mark, 
the broken heart 
Upon her brow,  
BEGIN TO B E A T.... 

And now we know this history,
the story that began my own. 
I await the rest of my family tale 
from inside the stones, I'm shown. 

When I know my true life's purpose, 
when I am connected with all of them…
then my hearts blood will stop beating...

...but my magic heart beat will begin.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2025

Poem

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Poet Avatar
February 26, 2025 at 4:45 PM
A touching story of a link through maternal ancestry! The lines in the narrative are fascinating for me to read. Thank you for your kind comments and congratulations on your win!
Woods Avatar
February 27, 2025 at 10:01 AM
I appreciate your interest and kind words of encouragement! Xoxo
Goldsmith Avatar
February 26, 2025 at 11:56 AM
WOW!!! What a write/story. Congratulations on your win. I enjoyed reading your wonderful write. Have a great day.............
Woods Avatar
February 27, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Thank you Paula! Xoxo
Evangeline Avatar
February 26, 2025 at 6:43 AM
This definitely reads like the beginning of an epic novel. I love it!
Woods Avatar
February 27, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Thank you Vanya! I hope to be inspired to write more. Xo
Dietrich Avatar
February 18, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Superlative extra creative writing. Do you truly have a bow mark?
Woods Avatar
February 19, 2025 at 7:10 AM
It was a difficult birth. The doc said she was turned wrong in the birth canal... her face was stuck against my pelvic bone so no matter how hard i pushed she couldn't get through. I'll spare you the details but we finally got her shifted. Anyway I think the mark was where she was pressed against my bones. Not positive though.
Woods Avatar
February 19, 2025 at 7:06 AM
It's funny because her birth mark exactly resembles my one and only tattoo of a broken heart. Same size and shape. My tattoo is on my shoulder though. Got it done about 8 years b4 she was born.
Woods Avatar
February 19, 2025 at 7:03 AM
My daughter was born with one, shaped like a broken heart between her eyebrows. The docs called it an angels kiss or stork bitelol... it's barely visible unless she is sick or has been crying, then it turns bright red. Thank you! Xo
Bayles Avatar
February 17, 2025 at 6:48 AM
Beautiful poem. I enjoy how a story flows through the lines.
Woods Avatar
February 21, 2025 at 7:04 AM
Thank you! I like the outcome...I didn't know where it was going when I began lol. Xo
Crandall Avatar
February 15, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Beautifully written tale of the connection through the maternal bloodline!
Woods Avatar
February 16, 2025 at 6:18 AM
Thanks! I'm hoping to write a few more to get into the story. Xo
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