NEW POEM: Inspired by a Real Mom

Inspired by the day that I had to go through my Mom's purse to find the cell phone that we share.  In every pocket of her purse there was one of those little plastic wrapped reseal-able packets of facial tissues, some in little cloth holders. They are inconveniently about the same size as the cell phone.  She thought I was making fun of her when I told her I thought it brilliant: you didn't have to think about which pocket you'd put your tissues, because they were everywhere.  

The thought has stuck with me ever since: when you really need a tissue, for a whole variety of reasons, you don't really want to take the time to hunt for it. It's a very "Mom" approach.  So this is a little bit of sweetness; not really heavy, deep, and real.  "Sweet," after all, has an important place in our lives as well.

Dedicated to my Mother, and all my friends and colleagues who are mothers.  It's not Mother's Day, but lest we forget: you never take a day off from being a mom.

Mom’s Purse

By Judith Cullen

© 2015

Pockets, pockets, pockets

Full to bursting

Necessities and contingencies

Gathered for convenience

Pockets, pocket, pockets

Chambers of utility

A small packet of tissues

Tucked in every one

Pockets, pockets, pockets

Among keys and nail kits

Combs and safety pins

Paper tissue everywhere

Pockets, pockets, pockets

A mother needs these

No pause to think or look

Comfort within her grasp

Reach in the pocket for

Joy, Sorrow, Pride

Disappointment

Anger, and Celebration

Pockets, pockets, pockets

Tucked in every one

A small packet of tissues

There can never be enough

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