Continuing with last week's theme of poetry that is simple, lovely, and simply lovely while touching on the intricacies of relationships, I give you Ada Limón's "The Raincoat."
I'm sharing some of the most significant lines to tempt you to go read the whole thing. It's only twenty-five lines in total, but I know how Poetry Friday is. I know it's sometimes hard to read everything, click through to everything, and take in everything you want to take in. But you won't regret the time it takes to read these twenty-five lines. I promise.
The Raincoat
by Ada Limón
When the doctor suggested surgery
and a brace for all my youngest years,
my parents scrambled to take me
-----
...I never
asked her what she gave up to drive me,
or how her day was before this chore.
-----
(And the end of the poem:)
...and I saw a mom take her raincoat off
and give it to her young daughter when
a storm took over the afternoon. My god,
I thought, my whole life I’ve been under her
raincoat thinking it was somehow a marvel
that I never got wet.
Fill in the blanks and read the whole thing here, at Poets.org.
~~~~~~~~~~
The always-lovely Janice Scully has the round-up this week at Salt City Verse.
Photo courtesy of Jupilu on Pixabay.
17 comments:
What a sweet poem! So touching as I remembered my mom and what she sacrificed for her five children, with me not seeing it. Thanks for sharing this. I'd like to read more.
Thank you for sharing that poem, Karen! It is poignant reminder of my mother. It shares a universal truth I think most appreciate when they move into adulthood and have to find their own raincoats. :)
I'm like a moth to flame when I see, "Ada Limon." This poem is so rich and full of motherhood, daughterhood and the small sacred things we do for each other. This poem is a keeper and it's going in my journal right now. Thank you for posting it. Considering how many of my friends are losing their mothers these days...it's a wonder I can type with these tears in my eyes.
That Ada is at it again, opening the heart of everything. I LOVE her work, and I had just really gotten into reading it when she was made Laureate. Here's to the raincoats and arched angel wings, letting us run about obliviously safe and snug and dry.
Aww, what sweetness...and I know that moment of revelation, to realize one has been cared for so greatly, in so many ways, for such a long time. Thank you. xo
* Janice, yes, it makes one think of so many invisible sacrifices. ❤️
* Tracey, here's to finding our own raincoats. :)
* Linda, tearing up with you, my friend. ❤️ I love Ada Limón too. I have so many of her poems in my "possible for Poetry Friday" file. :)
* Anon, ditto to every word! :)
* Irene, my pleasure to share this gem. xo
Karen, isn't that a beautiful poem? It is a precious poem illustrating what you wanted to: simple, lovely and about the intricacies of relationships. Wow. The idea of the dawning realization of being under the umbrella of someone dear is poqwerful.
Denise, yes, so simple and yet so powerful. ❤️
Thanks for sharing this one. The umbrella is such a beautiful metaphor for a mother's care. Really makes you realize how much we take our parents for granted sometimes.
I don't remember how I saw this, Karen, maybe on Poem a Day, but I sent it to my daughter, whose oldest daughter is going through the same thing, & it does mean 'extra', appointments, therapy, and on. I am glad you shared it, too, and no, twenty-five lines tells the whole story! Thank you for reminding us all to be thankful for our mothers and all they did for us.
You were right, of course. The twenty-five lines were worth it.
My mom's gone, but I still feel her umbrella over me.
I love Ada Limon's poem. It was the poem that introduced me to her. It says everything about the love of a parent. Thank you for showcasing it, Karen.
Karen, just your well-chosen excerpts moved me to tears. I'm off to read the whole thing. Thank you for this.
* Jama, yes, there's plenty I took for granted, for sure.
* Linda, we've been the route of many medical appointments and I'm sending lots of good wishes to your daughter and her daughter!
* Mary Lee, the coverage continues. :)
* Patricia, Limón's work is just so rich, isn't it?
* Laura, you're in good company here. :)
Gosh, I just ADORE her work. All of it...
Karen, this full poem touched me on such a personal level. My son was born with multiple handicaps and the very beginning of his life was an extremely difficult one. I remember the early years and all the appointments to doctors, PTs, etc.
My mother gave from her heart during my sister and my early years. Then, she retired as a Kindergarten teacher to come and help me with my son and stayed with us until she no longer could due to a stroke.
Family support is so needed during traumas and challenges. I appreciate those who offer me support now.
Thanks Karen, for sharing this gorgeous, heartfelt poem by Ada Limon. Such a touching ending,
“my whole life I’ve been under her
raincoat”
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