[This picture is actually my mom in 1955. This was written before she passed away in 2019. – Owen]
I do not know which is further
The seventeen hundred miles to see my mom
Or the sixty years since this photo was taken
Each needs the aid of human technology to be crossed:
Plane rides today, for my wife and me
Or this photo, snapped by my dad in Japan
And loaded by my brother-in-law onto the Internet
There, my mom, but twenty-four years old
Is sitting across the world, in Japan
Today, my mom is eighty-four years old
With Parkinson’s, heart troubles, macular degeneration
Recently moved into an Assisted Living facility
The stylish young woman of the photo
Now, having seen so many lives,
And dreamed so many dreams,
Still does —
This is my mom
Who I have always known
And who I do not know
As the farthest distances to travel
Are still those
Between two people
Trying to really
Communicate
(“To See My Mom” – 3-3-2015)
This has touched my heart on a level so incredibly deep and personal.. Great post, thanks for sharing it with us!
Poignant. Thank you for sharing.
She is model-beautiful!
Exquisite words and woman.
I’ve read this a few times now, and am likely to reread it again. And again. Beautiful, not to mention true.
I have a few more mom poems coming up. My mom is easy to get along with, but hard to know.
I wanted to reblog this, and then the post you wrote today about what you can and can’t see, so best I can figure is … there’s a reblog with a few links coming up.
Looking forward to these new posts.
Blessings upon you as you journey, Owen.
Thank you, my friend.
What a touching post…
Your mother is a true beauty. Wow. Just wow….
She still is at age 84.
I would imagine so! 😘
This is an amazing post.
Thank you.
Wow! Your mom’s gorgeous!
Thanks. She’s pretty amazing.
beautiful post man. thanks for sharing 🙂
Thank you.
Very well written… 🙂
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She is gorgeous goes without saying.. And the closing lines of the poem indeed are profound.
May the new year bridge the distances. Amen
Thank you.
Deeply touching. My dad had all the same conditions and so I feel for your family. Much love to all of you.
Thank you.
I really like this poem. Especially the firs’ few lines are quite intelligent. Thank your sharing for this grate-detail!
Absolutely wonderful in every way. And what a marvellous picture of your beautiful mother.
wow, amazing your mum has a good heart and very pretty . Lovely poem
This is really good. I like that you used a photo of your mom. The family photo helps complete the poem in a different way than if it wasn’t posted with the poem. Thank you for sharing this poem and photograph with us.
Sincerely,
Sam Sutlive.
This is a beautiful piece and the last 8 Lines sum it up so perfectly for us all- This is something we all are trying to deal with. And when the other person is your mother it is so important to leave each other feeling fulfilled. i wish you well.
Wow! The last few lines say it all!! Beautiful picture as well!!
Your mother is a beautiful woman. It’s so heart breaking seeing our strong parents, whom we grow to admire. Suffer the pains that come with old age. Stay strong my friend.
Endearing; well written!
Thank you!
This image is STUNNING! As is this piece 🙂
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So, so beautiful
So lovely to read this again and to see this beautiful pensive young lady!