Mother Used To Sing To Us In The Mornings

(A poem by Sal Godoij.)

Mother used to sing to us in the mornings

It was her way to wake us up

Like a melodious bell, her singing

Removed us from those fairy lands

Wake up, wake up, wake up children

You’re going to be late for school

Her voice, like a bird, nested in our hearts

And refused to fly away.

Mother used to sing to us in the mornings

It was her way to wake us up

But one morning, mother didn’t sing

The sun was up, the stove was cold

Our hearts were on hold

We were late for school

Her singing didn’t wake us; it was her silence

One after the other, we tiptoed to her bed

She seemed to be asleep, her profile at peace

“Mom?” the little one said, “Sing us a song, Mom?”

Her silence was the silence of a forever absence

But we didn’t know it yet

Children don’t grasp the sense of absence

Until absence shakes up their senses.

Mother used to sing to us in the mornings

It was her way to wake us up

She now sings her love in heaven above

For the children of the Earth, she sings her love

Wake up, angels of the Lord

Wake up, and listen to the children’s chords

Show them how much you care

Save them from their nightmares.

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This poem is a beautiful and emotional tribute to a mother’s love and the impact of her presence on her children’s lives. The poem’s use of repetition, with the first and second stanzas mirroring each other, creates a sense of familiarity and routine, while the third stanza serves as a poignant contrast, highlighting the mother’s absence.

The line that resonated with me the most is: “Her silence was the silence of a forever absence.” This line is particularly striking because it captures the profound impact of the mother’s absence on her children. The use of the word “silence” to describe her absence is especially powerful, as it conveys the idea that her presence was not just physical, but also auditory and emotional.

The image of the children tiptoeing to her bed, asking her to sing, and being met with silence, is a heart-wrenching moment in the poem. It’s a moment that underscores the children’s reliance on their mother’s presence and the sense of security she provided. The fact that they don’t yet understand the permanence of her absence makes the scene even more poignant.

The poem also explores the theme of childhood innocence and the gradual loss of that innocence. The lines “Children don’t grasp the sense of absence / Until absence shakes up their senses” suggest that children are not fully aware of the significance of their mother’s absence until they experience its full weight.

The final stanza, which describes the mother singing in heaven, is a beautiful expression of the idea that a mother’s love transcends even death. The image of her singing to the angels and asking them to protect children from nightmares is a powerful symbol of her continued presence in their lives, even if it’s no longer physical.

Overall, this poem is a moving tribute to the power of a mother’s love and the impact of her presence on her children’s lives. It’s a poem that celebrates the beauty of childhood and the importance of maternal love, while also acknowledging the pain and loss that can accompany its absence.