Mom, this was written for you so many years ago, but the meaning has neither faded norwaned over the decades...
MERRIGOLD
AS I PONDER DAYS GONE BY,
I ASK MYSELF, WHAT IF AND WHY,
HARD TIMES, GOOD TIMES, I RECALL,
SNAPSHOTS, MOMENTS, TREASURES ALL
A MOTHER’S LOVE, A WOMEN’S PRIDE,
NIGHT LONG VIGILS BY MY SIDE,
NERVES OF STEEL AND HEART OF GOLD,
SOMEHOW DEMURE, AND YET SO BOLD
RED WOOL COAT WITH TRIM SO FINE,
LONGJOHNS FREEZING ON THE LINE,
HOMEMADE SOUP AND HOMEMADE WAYS,
A WARM, DRY BED ON WHICH TO LAY
YOU MADE OUR HOUSE A HEARTH AND HOME,
A PLACE FOR FRIENDS AND KIN TO COME,
AS ADULT, YOUTH AND CHILD RECALL,
EACH MEMORY FEELS YOUR HAND IN ALL
AND THROUHG ALL LIFE’S JOY AND PAIN,
YOUR MEMORY SHALL NEVER WANE,
A FLOWER, BLOOMING, BRIGHT AND BOLD,
MY HEARTY, LOVELY MERRIGOLD
©️ Patrick J. Elliott 2004
