David Crandall Poet Free verse

Notes About The Poem

5/12/2025 for The Duality of Motherhood Poetry Contest sponsored by Suzette Richards

Your Disfigured Ode

mother
here no longer 
but forever judged
you were everything
the self-sacrificing
source of all love and comfort

and all rage and rejection
you made me
and i am somehow part of you
and i was your mirror
showing what you did not want to see
weakness, neediness 
the object of your shame and self-loathing

now
(just like me)
instead of producing a bouquet of roses
I disfigure this ode to motherhood

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Crystol Woods May 18, 2025 at 5:19 AM You have allowed yourself to be vulnerable here... thank you for sharing this with us! Poetry connects humanity through relatable experiences, emotion, and reaction. It's a beautiful craft that let's us truly see ourselves in our fellowman, gaining empathy and compassion. You are so brave! That paid off because you've created a poem so tender and raw, it aches inside of my heart. Xoxo David Crandall May 18, 2025 at 10:49 AM Thanks Crystol, I appreciate your comments!

Kim Rodrigues May 15, 2025 at 11:04 AM I love writing this way, to see the truth. Yes, we will all right that beautiful, sweet, that bouquet, but it is seeing between the lines that we find ourselves. Hugs and congrats! David Crandall May 16, 2025 at 8:49 AM Thanks Kim, I really appreciate your comment!

Terry Miller May 15, 2025 at 1:00 AM This is wonderful David David Crandall May 15, 2025 at 9:52 AM thanks Terry!

Nette Onclaud May 13, 2025 at 7:10 AM dark and light of motherhood needing closure to gain inner peace...remarkable, david! David Crandall May 13, 2025 at 8:19 AM Thank you Nette!

Kim Rodrigues May 12, 2025 at 5:02 PM Yes, so sad. So much to process when our parent is gone. Hugs. Very good! David Crandall May 12, 2025 at 5:06 PM Thank you, Kim. I was more than a little reluctant to post this one.