The Bonds of Family

Aromas from the kitchen feed
the bonds of family,
as Mama starts to blend and knead
the dough for baking spree.

When stench of baby's diaper
alerts her in the night,
she soothes her cranky customer
without a speck of spite.

When our creative spirits bloom,
the sticky fingerprints
adorn the walls of ev'ry room
with hue of peppermints.

When we return from day of play
with trousers caked in dirt,
she scrubs and cleans from day to day
and serves a sweet dessert.

Her language turns quite venomous
when orders are defied,
but discipline of calculus
has steady tone to guide.

When baseball season comes along
to let the games begin,
one voice stands out from bleachers throng,
exhorting us to win.

Her sweat from backyard garden toil
yields collard greens to share
because she nurtures plot of soil
with so much tender care.

Some fading photographs preserve
us toddlers taking naps
and silly grin of Uncle Irv
with golden dental caps.

The beeping hospital machine
now signals time is near
for last farewell to loving queen
of family so dear.

       

Author's Notes:

1. 36 lines of Hymnal Measure.

2. Hymnal Measure is a stanza form with specific pattern of rhyme and meter, as described and demonstrated in following link: http://www.thepoetsgarret.com/2013Challenge/form01.html .