It happened each morning the very same way.
“Rise up, young man, it’s gonna’ be a great day!”
I remember a time, with a goal to sleep late.
I questioned her why this day would be great.
She said, “It’s a choice that we each must decide
to embrace God’s gift or pull the covers and hide.”
“Then if I can choose, not trying to be mean,
I don’t like this annoying great-day routine.”
My response took her back. She thought for a bit.
Then softly replied, “If you want, then I’ll quit.”
My last wake-up call had finally been cast,
though it wasn’t her nature to give in so fast.
I’d managed to escape some childish traditions.
Independence, I thought, from useless renditions.
The next several mornings seemed kind of strange.
Just a knock on my door and a simple exchange.
But it didn’t take long, a couple of bad days,
I soon began missing that miserable phrase.
Something was different, my life out of place.
As if I were running just slightly off pace.
The reason she did it, I finally knew,
to teach me the power in words we construe.
I was much too stubborn to admit my mistake,
but knew in my heart the amends I should make.
The next time she knocked, I was ready to say,
“Thanks Mom, today is a God-Awesome day!”
She opened the door and smiled back inside.
“Yes son it is, if that’s what you decide.”
Author notes
Mom may not have started every day like this, but she showed it with her attitude. What words are you speaking every morning? With a new year upon us, what words are you speaking? It is your choice, no one else can decide for you.
In a list
- Silver Medal Winners • next in list
- Lessons in Life Story Poems • next in list
- True Stories • next in list
- My Personal Favorites • next in list
A contest entry
- New Year's recipe (with Oldpoetry) by Mari Goes.
1800 points, ended January 10, 6 entries
Silver trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - I Remember When by Raining Kisses.
910 points, ended February 17, 60 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Anything by Stormy Days.
1750 points, ended February 1, 87 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Children's Poetry by Animals.
550 points, ended May 1, 40 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
1 - 15 of 15
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Lol don't like the daily routine I like the way you said. Embrace Gods gifts or full the covers over your head.
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WOW
Oh WOW!!! I loved reading this, such a sweet story about how children learn through mistakes.
Thanks for entering!
- Animals
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congrats on the silver and hope you do well in the other contest this is a wonderful write full of love and meaning thanks for entering my contest
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I liked this very much, thanks for your wonderful entry
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Awesome job!
This is definatly 1 of the best poems I have read in a while! The kind with a valuable lesson within it is a plus!! GREAT JOB!!!
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an "awesome" message too...Drummond has the same idea, we create so much that is in our lives...Mom was wise, and you were wise to listen. Thank you for entering the contest.
Mari
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yes
mom is very cool, I am blessed. thank you - kevin
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There are a lot of things going on in this poem, preeminent I think is that age old struggle for independence. We all go through it, trying to break free of that image our parents have of us...eventually we get past the newness of adulthood and we no longer worry about how someone sees us, we meet our parents as adults...though as you already know...they never really see us that way...nor do we really want them too...I'm not sure how old you are but if young, you'll one day know what I mean. (hopefully.)
Your mom sounds like a great person and one who was teaching you the qualities that Drummond de Andrade wrote about in his poem...she certainly doesn't wait for New Year's day to find what makes her happy.
Of course the best lesson was how you learned the value of a simple greeting...and you only found that after you knew you'd lost it...so much is learned that way, sometimes when it is too late.
Thanks for entering the contest.
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thanks
for detailing out your thoughts on this piece, it is so much more helpful than "I loved it" I appreciate this kind of review very much - Kevin
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You were lucky to have a mother who so consistently showed the way to positive thinking.
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thank God
for Mom... lucky hardly begins to describe it - Kevin
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AWESOME!
What a wonderful piece of poetry. The message you have given us is one of beauty. We all have the choice to make our days and our lives what we want. As you said in your last line, "if that's what you decide." We can go around in a ho-hum attitude or we can make every day count and give our enthusiasm to others. This is a fantastic message you have given us. Thank you for sharing this with us all. Your friend in Poetry, Mysty Rain
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thanks
for getting it. some still miss the most important part of the story... you nailed it. - Kevin
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WOW
This actually brought tears to my eyes. How awesome was this...this is one of the best peices I have read by any poet famous, infamous or dead. Thank you so much for sharing that peice of your childhood. I grew up with just my father, but he was both a father and mother to me so this was very heartfelt...good luck now and always
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thanks, yeah,
my Mom is very cool... I appreciate your enthusiasm. Feel free to check out more, this is what I write... stories that rhyme (mostly true) - take care - Kevin
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