Learn With Mother

I mentioned last month that some of my work was published this year. The anthology, ‘Words To Live By’ has reached a wide audience and one of my pieces in particular seems to resonate with readers. ‘Learn With Mother’ combines my experience as a child and a mother, drawing together three generations in one poem. Today’s post is an opportunity to share the poem.

    Learn With Mother

    Walking together
    not hand in hand, but close to one and other,
    we explored the country lanes on foot.
    The yellow beam from her torch, and the jingle of the dogs’ collars
    leading the way.

    Looking upwards, she would point to the sky,
    telling me of the Moon cycles and showing me
    Ursa Major, Cassiopeia, Orion, and his belt.
    And occasionally, if we were lucky,
    the Milky Way.

    These were some of my favourite times of the summer holidays.
    Mother and daughter,
    looking up, and falling down,
    into the never-ending night sky.

    I took my own son walking one evening recently
    He’s two; we held hands as we went.
    Stopping to look up, he pointed …
    “star” he said, his eyes alight with wonder.

    I knelt to hold him, and we looked for more stars.
    As I reached up to trace The Plough above us,
    my mind wandered back to those warm summer nights
    spent exploring with my own mother.

    And in that moment, three generations were joined as one;
    all of us children of the stars, travelling together through the Universe.

A limited number of copies of ‘Words To Live By’ remain available for sale. The cost is £5, which includes UK postage. Contact me for details.

As we move on through autumn and into winter, I have a selection of book reviews scheduled. The first will be out very soon!