Irene Latham is our host for the Poetry Friday round up this week!
When I think of Irene, I think of Billy Joel’s song: “She’s Got a Way”
She’s got a light around her
And everywhere she goes
A million dreams of love surround her
Irene most definitely has a way with words. Two and a half years ago, I stumbled onto her poetry page. I began reading her poetry, following her on social media, listening to her short-lived video blogs.
And then, last spring it was my privilege to attend a Highlights poetry workshop led by Irene and her friend and collaborator, Charles Waters. Irene’s kindness, her encouragement in my writing, and her guidance is only outshined by her poetry.
I was smitten by this bouts-rime post from a few weeks ago and have been playing with the form.
Instead of trading word sets, I just randomly came up with a set on my own (two sets actually – and am working on another poem for those words). I then did random rhymes for the words (Found out later that one-syllable words make iambic pentameter much easier). Also, decided I would try out a Shakespearean sonnet. So I logged a sheet with an ABAB CDCD EFEF GG rhyme scheme and dropped in the two sets of words and there they sat till our weekly NEVERMORES prompt hit my email:
It came from one of our poet’s daughters: – “Write a poem about a time you were troubled and a friend or family member helped you.”
Perhaps this unconsciously had me channeling thoughts of my own mother as she nears her ninetieth birthday.
(BTW- I did my best to hold to 10 syllables of iambic pentameter, but admittedly missed in several places).
Mom at Ninety
Treated colds, sore throats and heartbreaks like a nurse.
For birthdays she baked favorite desserts.
Impossibly high standards were her curse.
She’d wave off “everyone” and then insert,
“That’s NOT what WE do, kids!” She was no painter,
yet knew the colors truest to each child.
Refused to let another’s faith taint her.
It was the secrets that she kept that still beguile.
As ninety nears, her life takes on more meaning,
with great-grands on her lap and gifts of time.
Shows us still that love lies in the greening
of days and years and tears through which we climb.
Spends little time in worry over sorrows.
Shows us to keep praying for tomorrows.
Photos & poem ©2023
Patricia J. Franz
Patricia Franz is a kidlit writer and published poet. She believes children, dogs, and sourdough have a lot to teach us about life, joy, and wonder. She has raised two boys, four dogs, and holds a master’s degree in Theology with a focus on children’s spirituality. Patricia, her husband, her Bernese Mountain dog, Bonny, and her sourdough starter split their time between the Arizona desert and the Sierra Nevada mountains. 
“Love lies in the greening of days…” Beautiful, Patricia.
Really beautiful! Love the strong woman she is and even more the one she raised!
Lots of truisms in there
Your mom sounds like a force to be reckoned with, Patricia! Lots of love in your poem. 🙂
Patricia, thank you for the Billy Joel! I’d like to live up to that. I’m so glad the poetry world brought us together! And wow, your mom. How proud she must be of you! This poem is such a wonderful tribute. What a gift. XO.
Patricia, what a beautiful tribute! Here’s hoping your Mom’s 90th is a joyous occasion. Thank you for sharing, and happy Poetry Friday!
Such a tribute to your mom, Patricia. This is my favorite stanza:
As ninety nears, her life takes on more meaning,
with great-grands on her lap and gifts of time.
Shows us still that love lies in the greening
of days and years and tears through which we climb.
For some reason I’ve been teary eyed reading several PF posts today. This was one of them.
Such a tribute Patricia! I love this stanza:
As ninety nears, her life takes on more meaning,
with great-grands on her lap and gifts of time.
Shows us still that love lies in the greening
of days and years and tears through which we climb.
Thanks for sharing your beautiful words.
Patricia, that was a lovely tribute to Irene! She is truly one of a kind. I love your tribute to your grandmother as well. So many factors at work there. A lot went into that poem, and the result is beautiful!
Patricia, I too became smitten with Irene’s words and like the fan girl that I am try to follow her poetry lead often. Hooray ! Your mom can receive this poem at ninety. How wonderful! My MIL, a spry 81 y.o. distinguishes between 90 and “a young ninety.” I’ll bet your mom is a young ninety. Enjoy every moment with her. “love lies in the greening” is such a beautiful phrase.
Such a great focus for your poetry, Patricia. A subject you know so intimately. Some wonderful words and lines have found their way into the writing space. I was particularly struck by these words-‘Shows us still that love lies in the greening of days and years and tears through which we climb.’ The final two line stanza is akin to a bow gathering everything that went before it ever so neatly together – ‘Spends little time in worry over sorrows. Shows us to keep praying for tomorrows.’ My next door neightbour turned 87 today, so I am in the same slipstream.
I love reading your journey here on your post to the ending of the poem, so richly wrought to show your love, Patricia. And how lovely that you wrote about Irene and your time at Highlights, another place I’ve experienced, with love and awe. It’s a beautiful and loving post.
Somehow my comment disappeared, but I want to write how much I enjoyed all the love you showed, for Irene, all the way to your love for your mother, her way of life all the years. Highlights is a special place, I agree. How great that you had the pleasure of working with Irene and Charles! Thanks, Patricia, and Happy Thanksgiving!
Amazing! “Love lies in the greening.” This line is BEAUTIFUL!!! And what a gift to celebrate your mother’s 90th birthday!
“Spends little time in worry over sorrows. / Shows us to keep praying for tomorrows.” What an inspiration she is!
Such sweetness encapsulating an important generous MoM.
Such good news of her long-living, with hopes for many Giving Thanks Holidays ahead.
BRAVA! for these adventurous poetry forms.
You are shining bright, Patricia.
I wouldn’t have noticed the syllables in your iambic pentameter. Your Shakespearean sonnet is gorgeous, as is your precious mother. I love that she is so full of the joy of living, as evidenced in your poem.
Patricia, was a Shakespearean sonnet! I wouldn’t begin to presume to count the syllables or notice any shortcomings in your iambic pentameter. It seems pretty spot on. However, more importantly, your sonnet shows the lovely nature of your mom, who obviously has a zest for life. Beautiful poem.
Oops, sorry for the double comment. I was getting an error message, and I thought the first one (and the second one for a bit) did not go through.
Patricia, you wrote a loving and beautiful tribute to your mother. Congratulations, to your mom and you; your love for her shines in this difficult to do sonnet, (yet, you made it seem easy.) I especially love these lines “Shows us still that love lies in the greening/of days and years and tears through which we climb” and “Spends little time in worry over sorrows./Shows us to keep praying for tomorrows.” Have a wonderful birthday party with your wise mother! Thank you for sharing process, your poem, photos, love, and inspiration.