Teachings

Hello, my friend, I hope this poem finds you well. I hope that reading this poem will bring you vivid memories of your mother, and if she is with you, you will run to hug her. If she is no longer with you, the poem may bring you a tear or two, and you will remember your mother with gratitude and love, a love that never ends, for the love for a mother grows beyond eternity.

Teachings

(A poem by Sal Godoij.)

My mother taught me my first steps in life

Holding my hand, she told me

To place one foot forward

Balance

And move the other onward

And my mother taught me

To say Mom and Papa

To join my hands and pray

And to ask God for many, many things

And my mother taught me

To fight to become perfect

Not to speak nonsense

And to look for the correct spot

Where to find myself in a crowded place

And to avoid profanities

Top put on my pants

To put on my shoes and to tie the shoelaces

Further, my mother taught me

The alphabet and words that rhyme

How to sharpen a pencil

To write: M-o-m-m-y- l-o-v-e-s m-e

And to read stories with happy endings

And my mother taught me

That two and two is four

And four and two is six

And plus, and plus, multiply, divide, and subtract

And to give the exact change

And to be always ready

Under any circumstance

She taught me to be an honest man

And things I should know as a teen

Which became helpful to me

When I turned seventeen

And my mother taught me

Respect and charity

And further to defend myself

From lies and from truths

And to never feel less than anybody

Not to feel more than anybody

And to live life in full

Tor respect nature, and everybody

And my mother taught me

About joy and sorrow

To protect my heart from love

And its attachments

But later, ahead in life

The world in front, and already an adult

My mother’s voice dimmed

Wise as they were

Madness confused me

And I couldn’t know the difference

Between love and virtue

Innocence, I say nay, without conscience

Perhaps passion, for sure, or mystery

There, my mother would say

You start loving and start dying

Or start loving and start living

For what is what life is.

Analysis of "Teachings" by Sal Godoij by COPILOT

A Reflection on Maternal Wisdom and the Journey of Life

Message

"Teachings" is a heartfelt tribute to the foundational teachings imparted by a mother to her child. The poem’s message is universal: a mother’s guidance shapes not only the practical skills needed for daily life but also the moral compass and emotional resilience that help one navigate adulthood. Through a gentle recollection of lessons, the speaker traces the arc of growing up, from learning to walk and pray to grappling with life’s complex emotions and decisions. The poem ultimately suggests that while maternal wisdom is a source of comfort and direction, growing older brings new challenges that may blur these early certainties. Yet, the echo of a mother’s voice endures, offering solace and perspective even amidst confusion.

Imagery

The poem is rich in imagery, drawing on everyday moments that evoke tenderness and nostalgia. The opening lines—“My mother taught me my first steps in life / Holding my hand, she told me / To place one foot forward / Balance / And move the other onward”—use the literal act of learning to walk as a metaphor for embarking on life’s journey. This motif of guidance and steady progress recurs throughout, as the mother teaches the basics of language, mathematics, and self-care. Simple actions such as tying shoelaces, sharpening pencils, and reading stories conjure images of childhood innocence and the patient nurturing of a parent.

The poem’s imagery extends to more abstract concepts: the crowded place representing the challenge of finding one’s identity, and the juxtaposition of joy and sorrow reflecting life’s emotional spectrum. The transition from childhood to adulthood is marked by a shift in imagery—from the clarity of a mother’s instructions to the “dimmed” voice and the “madness” of adult confusion, illustrating the fading certainty and the onset of existential questioning.

Emotional Resonance

For anyone reminiscing about their mother’s teachings, this poem carries a powerful emotional weight. It touches the soul by affirming the enduring impact of maternal care, even as the simplicity of childhood gives way to the complexity of adult life. The poem acknowledges the inevitable distance that grows over time—“My mother’s voice dimmed / Wise as they were / Madness confused me”—but also the persistent influence of those early lessons. The closing lines, “You start loving and start dying / Or start loving, and start living / Fo what is what life is,” encapsulate the paradoxes of love and existence, suggesting that the ultimate lesson is to embrace life fully, with all its joys and uncertainties.

Structure and Style

The poem’s structure mirrors the progression of life, moving from the concrete to the abstract. The repetition of “And my mother taught me” serves as a refrain, reinforcing the central role of the mother’s voice and anchoring each new lesson within the continuity of care. The language is simple, direct, and conversational, which heightens its sincerity and accessibility. Occasional misspellings and colloquial phrasing (“Top put on my pants,” “Tor respect nature”) lend authenticity, as if transcribed directly from memory, and evoke the imperfect, lived experience of growing up.

Universal Themes

·       Growth and Guidance: The transition from childhood to adulthood, and the shifting nature of parental influence.

·       Moral and Practical Lessons: The importance of honesty, respect, charity, and readiness for life’s challenges.

·       Identity and Self-worth: Lessons on not feeling less or more than others, and finding one’s place in the world.

·       The Complexity of Love: The tension between protecting oneself from love’s pain and embracing its transformative power.

·       Nature and Humanity: Respect for the environment and all people, as part of living life fully.

Conclusion

"Teachings" resonates deeply with anyone who cherishes the lessons of a mother. It is a celebration of the wisdom passed down through generations, a meditation on the passage of time, and a poignant reminder that, even as life leads us into uncertainty, the teachings of those who loved us first continue to guide, comfort, and inspire.

GOOGLE GEMINI Analysis of "Teachings" by Sal Godoij

This is a poignant and deeply relatable poem that beautifully encapsulates the lifelong influence of a mother's teachings.

Here is an analysis of "Teachings" by Sal Godoij, focusing on its message, imagery, structure, and emotional resonance. 💖

1. Structure and Voice

The poem adopts a simple, confessional structure, using the repeated phrase "And my mother taught me..." as an anchor. This repetition creates a rhythmic, list-like effect, mimicking the steady, cumulative nature of a mother's instruction over the years.

• Free Verse: The poem is written in free verse with short, conversational lines. This makes the tone intimate and accessible, sounding less like a formal lecture and more like a cherished memory or a personal journal entry.

• Shifting Focus: The initial stanzas focus on basic, physical, and moral lessons (walking, prayer, perfection, basic skills), but the scope gradually expands to encompass complex ethical and emotional guidance (respect, charity, self-worth, love, and death).

2. Core Message and Emotional Resonance

The central message is the profound and enduring impact of a mother's wisdom, which serves as the foundational "operating system" for her child's life.

The poem touches the soul of someone remembering their mother's teachings through several emotional currents:

• Nostalgia and Gratitude: The act of listing the lessons is an act of deep gratitude. It recalls a time of absolute safety and clear guidance, evoking a warm, nostalgic feeling.

• The Universality of Motherhood: The teachings—walking, saying Mom/Papa, counting, respect, tying shoes—are universal acts of parenting. This makes the poem resonate with almost anyone who was guided through childhood.

• The Challenge of Adulthood: The final stanzas introduce a heartbreaking complexity. The phrase "My mother’s voice dimmed" acknowledges the inevitable struggle of applying that clear, childhood wisdom to the messy reality of the adult world where "Madness confused me." This is perhaps the most touching part, as it validates the adult experience of confusion while still holding the mother's teachings as the true standard.

• The Paradox of Love: The ultimate lesson is about the paradox of love and life: "You start loving and start dying / Or start loving, and start living." This concluding wisdom elevates the mother from a simple instructor to a profound philosopher, summarizing life itself as a venture that contains both vulnerability (dying) and fulfillment (living).

3. Key Imagery and Symbolism

The poem uses simple, concrete imagery that symbolizes greater life lessons:

Imagery/Phrase

Symbolism/Meaning

"Holding my hand, she told me / To place one foot forward / Balance"

This is the foundational image of life guidance: physical support and the lesson of stability, necessary for all progress.

"To join my hands and pray"

The introduction to spirituality, hope, and having a source of comfort/guidance beyond the self.

"To look for the correct spot / Where to find myself in a crowded place"

The lesson of self-awareness and identity—how to maintain one's individuality and moral center in a confusing social environment.

"To put on my shoes and to tie the shoelaces"

Practical competence and self-reliance—the ability to face the world prepared.

"The alphabet and words that rhyme," "two and two is four"

The structure and logic of the world; the basic tools for navigating communication and commerce.

"To protect my heart from love / And its attachments"

Foreshadowing the pain of adult life; a mother's natural desire to shield her child from inevitable heartache.

4. The Shift and Climax

The poem moves to its emotional climax in the final stanzas, marking the transition from childhood learning to adult crisis:

But later, ahead in life

The world in front, and already an adult

My mother’s voice dimmed

Wise as they were

Madness confused me

The contrast between the clarity of the mother’s teachings and the "madness" of the world is stark. The adult speaker loses the ability to discern the difference "Between love and virtue" and falls into a state of uncertainty.

The mother's voice, though initially dimmed, returns as a guiding principle in the very last lines, offering a deeply insightful paradox:

You start loving and start dying

Or start loving, and start living

Fo what is what life is.

This final thought acts as a resolution. The lesson is not to avoid love, but to accept that love (and thus, life) is inherently a risk, a fusion of loss and profound experience. The mother's ultimate teaching is an acceptance of life's full spectrum.

The poem succeeds by presenting a chronicle of learning that moves from the physical to the ethical and finally to the metaphysical, reaffirming the mother's role as the child's first, and most important, teacher in the challenging journey of life.

ChatGPT Analysis of my poem Teachings.

This poem, "Teachings" by Sal Godoij, is a heartfelt tribute to the speaker's mother and the values she instilled in them. The poem explores the various lessons the mother taught the speaker, ranging from simple childhood skills like tying shoelaces and counting, to more complex life lessons like honesty, respect, and self-defense.

The poem is rich in imagery, with vivid descriptions of the mother's guidance and support. The line "Holding my hand, she told me / To place one foot forward / Balance / And move the other onward" is a powerful metaphor for the mother's role in helping the speaker navigate the challenges of life. The use of sensory details like the feeling of the mother's hand and the sound of her voice creates a sense of intimacy and warmth.

The poem also explores the theme of growth and development, as the speaker progresses from childhood to adolescence and eventually adulthood. The mother's teachings are portrayed as a foundation for the speaker's future, providing them with the skills and values necessary to navigate the complexities of life.

One of the most striking aspects of the poem is its portrayal of the mother's voice and presence. The line "My mother's voice dimmed / Wise as they were" suggests that as the speaker grows older, they begin to lose touch with their mother's guidance and wisdom. This is a poignant commentary on the way that children often take their parents' advice for granted, only to realize later in life the value and importance of their teachings.

The poem also touches on the theme of love and relationships. The speaker's mother teaches them to "protect my heart from love / And its attachments," suggesting a sense of caution and vulnerability. However, the final lines of the poem, "You start loving and start dying / Or start loving and start living / For what is what life is," suggest that love is a fundamental aspect of the human experience, and that it is only through embracing love and vulnerability that we can truly live.

The poem's message is one of gratitude and appreciation for the speaker's mother and the lessons she taught them. It is a celebration of the bond between parent and child, and a recognition of the profound impact that parents can have on their children's lives. The poem suggests that the lessons we learn from our parents are not just practical skills, but also values and principles that shape who we become as individuals.

Overall, "Teachings" is a beautiful and moving poem that will resonate with anyone who has been touched by their mother's teachings. Its themes of love, growth, and gratitude are universal and timeless, making it a poem that will continue to inspire and touch readers for years to come.