The Fragrance Of Love Exchanged II

This is a repost of a popular offering from last spring. It feels like a good thing to share again for Mother's Day.

joy in a most delicate form

a single fuchsia blossom

plucked from a crabapple tree

by the generous slender fingers

of a fourteen year old girl

on her way home from school

because it was beautiful

because she is kind

the dog barks

excited for the return of her friend

footfalls  are heard on the stairs

then a soft knock on the frame

around the open bedroom door

she enters and sits on the rocker

for a moment

for a breath

turns her head to the right displaying her treasure

centers her face again

eyes alight and smiling

reaching up she eases the small gift from behind her ear

where she’d tucked it with care

so as not to crush it in warm hands

because it is fragile

because she is compassionate

graceful movements

the slightest vibration of pleasure

gently oh so gently

she places it in her mother’s palm

both inhaling the fragrance

of love exchanged

THIS SAME CHILD WEARS HER HEART ON HER KNEE

LOVE AND BRUISES OFTEN VISIBLE

FOR SHE IS NOT AFRAID 

TO BE VULNERABLE

TO TRY EVEN IF

SHE RISKS A

FALL

I am deeply blessed with two caring and compassionate daughters, both offer handpicked flowers with love. The day of her prom, my eldest brought in a gently held fist-full of violets, lupines and azaleas. I have photos, but can't access them yet. Still waiting for the my external drive to be fixed. Trust me, they were beautiful as was she on her prom evening...and every evening.  A mother could not be gifted with two more beautiful and kind daughters than mine.

Happy Mother's Day to all of us Moms...whether our children were born from us, brought home to love by some other means, are children we connect with, teach and mother in other contexts, are smooth skinned or furry. Truly, we are blessed.

I am away this weekend and will be back home this evening...spending time with two of my favorite Moms, my "big" sister and sister-in-law.