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A Sonnet for My Son
On Mother’s Day, I simply have to say
I’m humbled by my role and heartened too.
The gift of you has paved a wondrous way
To seeing life through stirring points of view.
I’ve basked in scenes through eyes alive with joy—
Your toddler-take on creatures great and small.
I saw the man within the little boy.
I see the boy within the man, so tall.
I’ve felt your every ache your every pain.
I’ve held your hand and had to let it go.
I’d gladly spend the time I’ve had again
Celebrating milestones as you grow…
And now you’ve seen my love on full display,
Bring on the box of chocolates and bouquet!
.
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Susan Jarvis Bryant is a church secretary and poet whose homeland is Kent, England. She is now an American citizen living on the coastal plains of Texas. Susan has poetry published in the UK webzine, Lighten Up On Line, The Daily Mail, and Openings (anthologies of poems by Open University Poets).
Godiva, See’s, some other, local brand–
I hope your Mother’s Day is simply grand.
A smile of a Mother’s Day couplet. Thank you, Julian.
Nice stuff, as usual, with a surprise twist at the end. Had she honored me less I might have honored my own mother more.
Isn’t that always the way?
Thank you, C.B. I’m intrigued by, “Had she honored me less I might have honored my own mother more.” It saddens and heartens me. It saddens me because all mums love to spoil their children to a degree… are you saying they get less respect because of it? If you are, I am heartened as my son will think I’ve only lavished beautiful words on him for the flowers and chocolates – I had trouble with the final couplet, and your words make me know my decision was spot on.
My comment was more of a question than an answer. Nobody knows how things will work out. Trust in God, but always apply your parking brake. So says the wise guy.
This is so, so moving!
Holy cow, Susan!
Happy Mother’s Day ❣️
Thank you, Joe! I miss my son, and these words came very easily.
Totally enjoyable Susan! I love everything about this poem!
Russell, I’m thrilled! Thank you!
Susan – In this time of familial weirdness, I am happy to see you are proud to show your maternal feelings.
My mother was a tough but loving lady with a tremendous sense of right and wrong, and not afraid to speak out about it, either.
I only wish I had spent more time with her, but I was busy growing up. I know she watches over me still. Happy Mother’s Day, mama!
Dear Sally, thank you very much for your lovely comment. You are right about the “familial weirdness”. One of the reasons I decided to write this poem was an article Mike and I read on the term “mother” being offensive. Mothers should now be known as “birthing people”, presumably because “men” can now give birth and breastfeed, and they’re no doubt better at doing it than women! Are we living in the twilight zone?!
As for your relationship with your mother, what a gift. I had a similar relationship with my forthright, feisty and affectionate grandmother and she lives in my heart to this day. May they long look over us. A very happy Mother’s Day to your dear mama and my dear grandmama… how lucky we are to have had such wonderful influences in our lives.
Beautifully done with a frolicking finale. I just hope the box has some dark chocolate morsels!
Thank you, Jeff… dark chocolate morsels are divine – the obligatory Mother’s Day treat.
Good one Susan! Your son must be really proud of his mom. Happy Mother’s Day to you and all the other mothers out there.
Thank you very much Yael. My son is a fair few miles away from me today, but I heard from him and he said he was “proud” of me… that word was sweeter than any chocolate and more beautiful than any rose. I echo your sentiment – Happy Mother’s Day to all the wonderful mums out there.
It’s the best job in the world.
Most certainly! A very happy Mother’s Day to you, Gail!
Thank you! And to you.
So very moving, Susan! Again, a sensitive selection of words which are simple because that’s what the subject matter dictates. I especially like the lines “I saw the man within the little boy./I see the boy within the man, so tall” which I think are the heart of the poem. In just a few words you movingly convey how the relationship has changed through time with love transforming into… love. This poem makes me miss my mother — which is a good thing. Well done. And happy Mother’s Day!
Brian, I am glad my poem touched you… I will admit to you that when I wrote the lines you mention, tears pricked my eyes. Time really does move swiftly, and when those who know tell you to cherish the years with your children, you are often too busy to give them the maximum attention… I did my very best, but would love to do it all over again.
It sounds as if your mother had a wonderful influence on you, and I am certain that the close relationships we have with those who offer us selfless love, and the wisdom of a truthful heart, live on in our hearts with memories to draw on when in need. With a nod of respect to your lovely mother on Mother’s Day.
Happy Mommy’s day, Susan. Great and touching poem and wonderful dulcet couplet. So why am I quibbling? The poem is so metrically regular that ‘commemorating milestones as you grow,” iambic as it is and adding 2 required beats for consistency, I think would be a better word in the ante-penultimate line, than Celebrate.
Thank you very much, Frank. I always appreciate your fine eye. On this occasion, I will admit to full knowledge of my metrical lapse. I sweated over this line, but the only word for me is ‘celebrating’. I considered ‘commemorating’, but it had a funereal feel about it. I have always celebrated my sons’s milestones. The poem only took me around thirty minutes to write yesterday morning, so it could probably do with some serious editing. I will go back to it and see what I can do with your wise words in mind. Thanks again.
Thanks, Susan. As a writer myself, I do try to parse subtle differences of meaning in different words. I really conflated the two words. To celebrate is to commemorate and vice versa, as I saw it. I guess it would depend on the context. You can also put ‘while’ before ‘celebrating’ to get the iambic metric back in sync. Aside from that, I take it from the operant word “miss” that your son is in England still?
That was great. I particularly enjoyed the reversal of Mother’s Day expectations, i.e. the mother addressing the son, and although the earlier years can be innocently fun, those rebellious teenage years can get eggshell-treading difficult.
I wasn’t as taken by the light-hearted final couplet as everyone else seemed to be. Something more serious and philosophical I felt would have been more traditional, though the reversal of expectations is in keeping with the way you treated the topic (see first paragraph).
Thanks, as always, for a well-written read.
Thank you for your observations, Paul. I thought it would be a neat touch to reverse those Mother’s Day expectations, and I’m glad it worked.
As for the closing couplet, I can see exactly where you’re coming from and could easily continue along in the same vein… but, as the title says, it’s a sonnet for my son. Number one, I’m sure I’d embarrass him, and number two, he knows his mother’s humour… and the closing couplet sums up our relationship perfectly. It’s full of love and laughter. He’s been given plenty of love in the first twelve lines… I always have to leave room for a giggle.
The essence of life is change.
The irony of life is the variety of feelings this brings, the opposites and contrasts between these feelings, and the need in a “felt” life to experience pain as well as joy, happiness with sadness, reflection giving us comfort or understanding and wisdom, and to discover the reward we get when we share our feelings with others.
Your verse conveys this “richly”, as evidenced by the many well-earned responses, coming like Autumn leaves, all a’flurry, all different, but all reflecting further the variety of feelings the subject of your verse generates.
My feelings ? your first six lines drew me in to read the rest; the next six lines send shivers each time I re-read them, re-awaking my own similar feelings through parenthood.
I like your verse as it is: a poem polished perfect is not human.
Jason, your beautiful, from-the-heart comment has proved to me that writing with a fearless honesty that beats to the rhythm of my heart can be very rewarding. Your words tap into the very core of my poem, which took very little time to write but gave me exactly the same emotions you were feeling when you read it. This poem is pure me… straight up… no embellishments, and when you say; “a poem polished perfect is not human”, I see a lot of sense in that. I try hard to meet every strict-form criterion, but if that means losing the soul of the poem, I have to veer from the orthodox path. I really appreciate your take – it has given me plenty to think about. Thanks again.
My favorite lines:
I saw the man within the little boy.
I see the boy within the man, so tall.
and I love lightening it up at the end as well. Spot on rhymes and meter never pass unenjoyed.
Daniel, I’m thrilled you like this from-the-heart piece, as-is. It’s rare that a poem comes to me this quickly… sometimes, I believe a poem whispers in one’s soul and just waits for the poet to breathe life into its song.
A simple yet heartfelt and impactful poem that rings true in the hearts of all mothers! I commend you Ms. Bryant for composing such a sublime piece of art on this joyous occasion.
Although I enjoyed reading the poem in its entirety, I was particularly enthralled by these specific lines as they remind me of my own loving mother, whose unconditional support and guidance has motivated me to pursue writing.
(I’ve felt your every ache your every pain.
I’ve held your hand and had to let it go.
I’d gladly spend the time I’ve had again
Celebrating milestones as you grow…)
In fact, your poem has had a deep influence on me that I was inspired to write two of my own Mother’s Day poem- a simple (yet classic) sonnet that commemorates the efforts of our solicitous mothers whose counsel and care has shaped us into who we are today. Thank you again Ms. Bryant for the serendipitous inspiration that you have unexpectedly provided me.
“Mother’s Day Blooms”
How shall I define a mother’s great love
When florid words and poems fail to convey
A message to these saints sent from above.
Flowers convey, display, and not betray
The kindness of these angels most divine.
A Lady’s Mantle for her love comforting,
A Hibiscus for her beauty rare and fine,
Gardenias for her love sweet and welcoming,
And pink carnations for her heart maternal.
Add red tulips to show her perfection
And primroses for her love eternal.
In spite of all this floral expression,
Mother Nature herself blessed me withal
By giving me a mom, the best bloom of all!
Ryan, what a wonderful comment – I thank you for it and I’m honored that it’s inspired you to go on and write a beautiful poem as a tribute to your own loving and guiding mother. I love the mention of all the gorgeous flowers which add considerably to the heartfelt sentiment of the closing couplet. Thank you very much for sharing this.
Thank you again Ms. Bryant for the inspiration and I am gratified that you enjoyed my poem.
Happy Mother’s Day to you!
Susan,
It is remarkable that Evan’s chosen painting bears an uncanny resemblance to our Samuel. The poem, of course, is 100% You.
Just beautiful.
I wonder how many people besides me will come back to this post to check the picture?
I suppose those who have an interest in Susan. I’m sure most people have more of an interest in her poetry than in her… except for me, of course.
Count me equally interested in the great poetry and the fascinating poet!
Oh, thank you, Russel, for chiming in! Things have been so dramatic around here lately. I was beginning to wonder if I had started to come off as some sort of weird stalker! (I started trying to imagine what I’d say to Mike should he suddenly show up on my doorstep.)