Love Poem: A Daughter's Tribute
Michele Godleske Avatar
Written by: Michele Godleske

A Daughter's Tribute

Upon the day when I was new
You held me at your breast,
And from that day love did accrue
For both I do attest.

You brought me to a place unknown
With slates of painted wood,
Where cheerful circus themes were flown
Above my neighborhood.

We seemed to nest for hours 
At night in satin blanket trim,
My curious nature flowered 
While yours eyes grew tired and dim.

The bears and clowns did entertain
Those few and fleeting days,
Until my innocent domain
Had overstayed its phase.

For soon the crawling was replaced
With awkward stepping feet,
A challenge you had bravely faced
Without fear of defeat.

Sweet infancy was soon eclipsed
By toddler nonchalance,
For “I can’t like it” pursed my lips
With every smug response.

You bore the brunt of childish acts
With ever loving ease,
Till school time called for pink backpacks
And alphabet expertise.

Soon Girl Scouts meetings filled your time
And clarinet your ears,
For you would plunk down every dime
To see me enjoy those years.

But then the teenage years ensued
When self-esteem is low,
You lifted me from anxious moods
When I had reached plateau.

Our arguments were common then
I thought myself all knowing,
While you’d repeat to me often
That I still had some growing.

We made it through till high school’s end
When college had arrived,
You made sure that I would attend
And my obstacles survived.

Through crying phone calls in the night
And stressful social scenes,
You’d hug me with unyielding might;
Upon you I could lean.

When graduation finally came
You looked so proud and calm,
“I made it through!” I did proclaim,
You knew it all along. 

I am grown and on my own,
With life ahead of me,
But through this piece I hope I’ve shown
Just what you mean to me.

For all the memories in the past
My best friend you remain,
And all the troubles we’ve surpassed
Have not all been in vain.

For through these times I have found
An idol strong and true,
And may I say, loud and profound,
My idol, Mom, is you.