Chitika

Chitika

MY MOTHER'S WORDS




ANNA HEMPSTEAD BRANCH


                Someone has said that the most beautiful word in the English language is mother. That Mother can also be the source of beauty to children who are growing up is pictured in this poem of Anna Hempstead Branch. She is an American lyric poet who has written "The Heart of the Road,"The Shoes That Danced," "Rose of the Wind" and other beautiful poems.
                Notice what a lovely picture we have of mother as we see her reflected in her speech and ways. Aim further to read aloud for the rhyme and picture-making effect of the lines.




My mother has the prettiest tricks
of words and words and words
Her talk comes out as smooth and sleek
As breasts of singing birds.

She shapes her speech all silver fine
Because she loves it so.
And her own eyes begin to shine
To hear her stories grow.

And if she goes to make a call
Or out to take a walk,
We leave our work when she returns
And run to hear her talk.

We had not dreamed these things were so,
Of sorrow and of mirth.
Her speech is as a thousand eyes
Through which we see the earth.

God wove a web of loveliness,
Of clouds and stars and birds,
But made not anything at all
So beautiful as words.

They shine around our simple earth
With golden shadowings,
And every common thing they touch
Is exquisite with wings.

There's nothing poor and nothing small
But is made fair with them,
They are the hands of living faith
That touch the garment's hem.

They are as fair as bloom of air,
They shine like any star,
And I am rich who learned from her
How beautiful they are.




Previous   Next


 

Stat View