Rest in Peace, Mama.

I was unable to blog for several days.

My mother passed away last week. She joined the Creator at 81.
After suffering a stroke about 4 years ago, her condition deteriorated.
Our family is saddened by the loss, but she is now Home; she now rests in Eternal Peace!

In memoriam, I repost this:

For me, a line from mother
is more efficacious than all the homilies
preached in Lent.”
– Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807 -1882)


MAMA
(mother of six,
widow, retired teacher,
grandma, great-grandma)

exactly how right can I write about you?
the script may just do no justice to you
clear words as the pure morning dew for you
equal with no woman, one and only you.

the elves in my childhood, you did banish
my ghosts in adulthood, you admonish
between me and my forfeits, you keep watch
and between me and my feats, you’re in touch.

time I would not know ‘til it to me you brought
earth would not be home ‘til it for me you sought
reason would not be mine ‘til it to me you taught
and, life would not be so ‘til it for me you bought.

– between
girlhood and motherhood
are hurdles withstood.

– between
motherhood and grand-motherhood
is growing brood.

(c) 2004 Chito L. Aguilar

Mama and Me in 1958

MAMA: mother of six, widow, retired teacher, grandma & great-grandma

exactly how right can I write about you?
the script may just do no justice to you
clear words as the pure morning dew for you
equal with no woman, one and only you.

the elves in my childhood, you did banish
my ghosts in adulthood, you admonish
between me and my forfeits, you keep watch
and between me and my feats, you’re in touch.

time I would not know ‘til it to me you brought
earth would not be home ‘til it for me you sought
reason would not be mine ‘til it to me you taught
and, life would not be so ‘til it for me you bought.
(c) 2004 Chito L. Aguilar

Photos taken by my uncle in 1958, when I was 7 months of age.

Video music: “Calm”, by Musicshake

21 thoughts on “Rest in Peace, Mama.

  1. Such a lovely tribute to a beautiful lady. She sounds as if she was the most wonderful mother, who doubtless will continue to inspire your poetic eloquence, even though she’s only with you in spirit now. My love and prayers to you xxxx

    • Thank you so much, Sarah!
      Your comforting words somehow eased the pain of losing such a wonderful mother. My mother was my first English teacher (she retired as a model teacher in one of our local schools).

  2. Chito, I am sorry that you have lost your mama. It is so hard to let go – we never really feel ready to do so! What a lovely tribute you bring to her – she would be so pleased, I know, at the love you convey in your words and images.

    • Muchas gracias, mi amiga!
      Your empathy, I can feel so much. Another color shift in my life… with the passing of my dear mother. Ah, the shifting shades in the color spectrum —
      I think it is the Creator’s way or reminding us of our mortality; our transience.

  3. I am so sorry for your loss. There is nothing like a mother’s love. don’t get me wrong… dads are fantastic, but being a mother & having a mother I take care of, I cherish each moment we have together. What a lovely tribute to your mother. The pictures are so touching and beautiful…

    • Kathryn, thank you very much for such profound comment. I abide by your thoughts, being a mother yourself, and taking care of your mom, too. I am also heartened to know that you appreciate my tribute to my mama.

  4. I am so sorry for your loss – probably one of the hardest losses we have to bear. You will continue to make her proud and be an inspiration to us all. Sending much love to you and yours.

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