Time To Go In Loving Memory of My Mother

My mom was a strong woman, and stubborn too,
Yet she had a soft side, between me and you.
That side she would show, when you least expected,
But let me tell you, she was well respected.

Mom was quite unique, and was one of a kind,
She was set in her ways, so keep that in mind.
The youngest of nine, she had gotten her way,
Spoiled by her siblings’, almost every day.

Right out of high school, she had married my dad,
Blessed with three children, plus fifty years they had.
They both were hard workers, in all that they did,
My dad taught himself, from when he was a kid.

My mom was a smoker, for forty-six years,
Some day it would happen, she’d face all her fears.
Lung cancer she had, and inoperable too,
Her time on this earth, would be shortened we knew.

Radiation and Chemo, had done their thing,
Remission set in, tears of joy it did bring.
We would go out at night, to shop and to talk,
I knew she enjoyed, getting out for a walk.

Two years had gone by, after Thanksgiving Day,
Her pain had returned, but was afraid to say.
She’d lie on the couch; it was strength she did lack,
We knew in our hearts, that the cancer came back.

We shared lots of laughter, but many a tear,
I tried to assure her, she’d nothing to fear.
“Please watch over your dad, this one thing I ask.”
“I know it will be, quite a difficult task.”

One morning in March, Hospice called us to say,
You may want to come, for she’s slipping away.
For the night before, mom told me to stay home,
“Be there for your kids, you can call me by phone.”

When we all arrived, for a moment she woke,
Her eyes said it all, not a word had she spoke.
We stayed by her bedside, just holding her hand,
“It’s time to let go mom, we all understand”.

A few days had passed, not ready to let go,
For it had been raining, but letting up slow.
The sun began shining, the clouds disappeared,
Opening the heavens, for mom’s time has neared.

We gathered together, her forehead we kissed,
Whispering so softly, how much she’d be missed.
“Your time has arrived mom, just follow the light”,
She left us so peaceful, she gave up her fight.

It was time to drive home, in the car we got,
Then something had happened, while leaving the lot.
Huge drops of rain falling, it had to be fate.
They were tears of joy; she was at heaven’s gate.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2009

Poem

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A   Avatar
October 10, 2013 at 8:33 PM
Kelly, , congrats with your winning poem in the rhyme battle.... xox~ LINDA
Zakerski Avatar
October 11, 2013 at 4:08 AM
Linda - Thank you very much for your congrats on my poem - xox Kelly
Johnson-Saunders Avatar
October 9, 2013 at 6:12 PM
Kellya BIG congrats on your rhyme battle win! A beautiful tribute to your mom...very sorry for your loss... Love and Blessings, Rhonda
Zakerski Avatar
October 11, 2013 at 4:09 AM
Rhonda - Thank you so very much for congratulating me on my win! It's greatly appreciated Kelly
A  Avatar
October 8, 2013 at 8:27 PM
Hi Kelly, awesome rhyme battle win.............SKAT
Zakerski Avatar
October 11, 2013 at 4:09 AM
Skat - Thanx so VERY much!
Brown Avatar
October 7, 2013 at 5:26 AM
Beautiful, absolutely beautiful! thanks for sharing and congrats on your win!!
Zakerski Avatar
October 11, 2013 at 4:07 AM
Stacey - A Huge Thank you for your congrats on my win!!!
Michelle Avatar
October 6, 2013 at 7:41 PM
This was amazing. Thank you for entering my contest. Congratulations in my contest, thank you for sharing your poem with me. Love, Juli-Michelle
Zakerski Avatar
October 11, 2013 at 4:06 AM
Juli-Michelle - Thank you so VERY much for your kind words on my poem.
Brown Avatar
July 18, 2012 at 9:17 AM
Congratulations on your poem making it through round one of the PoetrySoup International Poetry Contest. I wish you the best in the finals Kelly. Love, Carol
Brown Avatar
August 3, 2011 at 6:11 PM
Congratulations on your poetry making it through round one in the PoetrySoup International Poetry contest again Kelly. I wish you the best in the final round. Love, Carol
Kendrick Avatar
November 13, 2010 at 1:01 PM
Congratulations on going on into the second round..Sara
Brown Avatar
November 12, 2010 at 12:14 PM
Congratulations on your poetry making it through the first round of the Poetrysoup site contest Kelly. The best to you in the finals. Love, Carol
Sweetheart Avatar
November 10, 2010 at 5:41 AM
Congrats Kelly on having this poem selected in the first round of competition in the P.S. contest luv.. good luck in the next phase ...
Hilliker Avatar
November 8, 2010 at 11:15 AM
Beautiful poem about your Mom's passing. Congrats on it being featured too. Read my "When You Think of Me" poem, it's about dealing with death. You might appreciate it at this time.
Brown Avatar
November 8, 2010 at 9:56 AM
Congratulations on your poem being featured this week Kelly. Love, Carol
Sweetheart Avatar
November 7, 2010 at 3:46 PM
Congrats Kelly on your featured poem this week on the Soup.. a great one to share with us all this happy Sunday with luv..
Kendrick Avatar
October 14, 2010 at 4:43 PM
Congratulations on your win..Sara
Skyles-Theoklapoet Avatar
September 23, 2010 at 12:06 PM
OMG so pretty but sad.When moma's leave no matter our age we never get over it.I believe there's a spcial place in heaven for moma's.Congrats on your well deserved win.Teresa
Gorelick Avatar
September 22, 2010 at 1:33 PM
How sad..such a hard part of life. Congrats on your success in the contest..your mom would have been proud. BG
Mehta Avatar
September 21, 2010 at 4:23 AM
Congratulations on this nice win in the contest, Kelly
Brown Avatar
September 21, 2010 at 4:14 AM
Congratulations Kelly on your win in John Heck's contest "Encore". Love, Carol
Sweetheart Avatar
September 20, 2010 at 7:28 PM
Congrats Kelly on your winning poem in the Encore contest.. an awesome piece of poetry .. enjoy your win tonight with luv..
Kendrick Avatar
October 12, 2009 at 3:51 AM
I feel your joy at having such a wonderful mother and sadden at the loss in your life. You have done an excellent job here with the verse and rhyme. Keep writing. Sara
Fraser Avatar
October 10, 2009 at 4:09 AM
Soup Mail for you Kelly.
Strand Avatar
October 10, 2009 at 12:39 AM
Lovely tribute Kelly.Thank you for your welcome comments Rgds Brian
Goswellin Avatar
October 6, 2009 at 8:00 AM
that made me cry.... sorry you had to go through that....
Richards Avatar
October 3, 2009 at 3:46 PM
I too lost my mother when I was very young...I have never forgotten those last hours, those last days. It stays in our hearts, long after, but the good memories, outshine the sad! Nicely done! ~ Carrie
Fraser Avatar
October 3, 2009 at 7:11 AM
Oh my, what a tear jerker Kelly. My mother in law died a few years ago, she lived with us and she was the rock in our family, sadly missed. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading all your poems this fine Saturday, every so often i pick out a name and do the Biz, and my am i happy i picked out your name. Every one i choose have amazed me in their wonderful writes, some the same, some different - but all quite wonderful in their own right. Thank you for being here with your work >> James,xx
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