Flowers for My Mother

Mommy, I brought you flowers
For Mother’s Day today,
Dandelions and violets
from the backyard where I play.
Thank you for your tender care,
warm cookies and cold juice,
Stories from the Bible,
and tales of Mother Goose.

Mama, I brought you flowers.
Happy Mother’s Day to you.
They’re zinnias from the neighbor’s yard.
She never even knew.
Thank you for driving the minivan
to school, and church, and the mall,
to music lessons, and the dentist,
but especially baseball.

Mom, I brought you flowers.
I nearly forgot this year,
But Mother’s Day is Sunday.
I guess I won’t be here.
I don’t know what these flowers are.
I bought them in the grocery store.
I love you, Mom. I’ll see you later.
Thanks for letting me use the car.

Hi, Mom, I sent you flowers.
It’s our Mother’s Day gift to you.
Sorry we can’t be with you.
The roses will have to do.
We’ll be at the in-laws’ house this year,
maybe next year at your home.
I miss you, and I love you, Mom.
Sorry it’s been so long.

I brought flowers to my mother,
a pink geranium for her windowsill.
I hope she can enjoy it.
Somehow I know she will.
She hasn’t been the same sweet mom
since we brought her here last June.
I know you’ll take good care of her.
I’ll be back again real soon.

Mama, I brought you flowers,
I put them in a vase.
They’re here beside your grave
At your final resting place.
They’re just wild flowers from the roadside
I saw along the way.
I thought of you and picked them.
After all, it’s Mother’s Day.

Mama, I brought you flowers
for Mother’s Day today.
Somehow I know they’re not enough
to say what I want to say.
Thank you for all you were and are –
so loving and so giving.
I love you, and I miss you, Mom.
Enjoy the flowers of heaven.

Kirk H. Neely

Mother’s Day 2001