A Mother Never Forgets.

A poem with a little twist at the end...

As the old nun lay dying on her bed

many thoughts tiptoed through her head

of a baby boy, her only child

from her younger days, her life then wild.

She gave him up at birth for adoption,

having no choice, her only option.

While the Sisters around her chant in solemn prayer

her eyes are fixed on the ceiling in a magnetic stare.

She wonders what became of him,

the memory of him, newly born, now dim.

Into his basket that morning, before they took him away

she placed a gold family ring, to fit him one day.

The Priest then came; He held her hand and her heart it did sing.

She saw there reflected her gold family ring.

So, he’d become a Priest, the thought filled her with joy!

Her dear darling son, her own baby boy.

She closed her eyes peacefully; Her time had now come,

so happy to have seen this Priest - her son.

The Priest’s job was over and he went on his way.

He felt at ease now, for the nun he would pray.

But he took off the ring, slipped it into his pocket

It was given to him yesterday, by a dying drug addict!

Reviews

[Poetic_Vixen]

The last line indeed blew my mind as it did break my heart, knowing what became of her son, getting wasted away by drug, yet the kindness of this Priest who looked after her and prayed for her is truly one of heartwarming, it gives me ease to know the nun was in peace at her last moments even though it may be false, yet, it makes me realise, if lying can instill peace to someone one shouldn't be bound to cruel truths then, not in such a case at least, this poem held me by its emotions dear friend, your poems are ever moralistic of these little details, how the mother remembers her children till her last moments, how we should never fail her, the Priest here won my heart, I was grateful to read this poem Marie!

[Marie]

Dear P. V. I have no words to thank you for reading this poem and for your wonderful review. I am SO happy you enjoyed reading it and though I didn't say in the introduction, there is a 'moral' within the last lines of the poem as follows: Things are not always as they seam and we shouldn't believe everything we see. It is NOT a true story, my lovely friend, it is simply from my imagination. You are so right, if someone is at peace we should never do or say anything which will disturb that peace, that would be both cruel and evil. Just "let sleeping dogs sleep". Mother is our first love, our teacher, protector, well wisher, guide, carer and we should always return her love to the very last breath she takes in her lifetime. I am MOST grateful to you for reading, dear P. V. and for your most encouraging comment. I wish you a very lovely evening and a very lovely, blessed and wonderful new week too...

[Poetic_Vixen]

Dear Marie, I hope you know how a wonderful person you are! All my blessings to you!

[Marie]

and all of mine to you also, my dear friend P.V...🌹 💜 🌹

[Soren]

Act of charity for a dying mother. Is a lie a sin if it is for the good of another? A most beautiful story written so well with a surprise ending that I always love. A true treasure with Poignant meaning and questions to ponder over.

[Marie]

So pleased you enjoyed this little poem, Soren. The priest didn't know the nun had a baby before she became a nun. It was coincidence that her son had given the ring she put in his basket to the priest, I guess he had no more use for it in this world and absent mindedly the priest wore it when visiting the nun who recognised it and made the assumption that he was her son. She died happy, dear Soren and that seemed to be so important when I wrote the poem. I am so pleased you liked the little twist at the end! Gratitude with brightest blessings for your great kindness. Thank you again, dear friend...

[Tom]

And don't the Lord work in mysterious ways, whatever, wherever her much missed son, this dear nun, mother, elderly lady found peace and acceptance towards the final moments of life.. Amen!

Superbly penned in fine, flowing rhyme and that concluding twist, well, the irony is compelling!!

[Marie]

Aaaawwww! Thank you for reading and for sharing your thoughts with me in your wonderful review, Tom. Yes, the irony of the situation is gripping, but it only matters that the Sister crossed over to Spirit in joy and peace. Thank you so very much, Tom...

[Fabian G. Franklin]

I like the O. Henry sort of twist at the end.

[Marie]

Thank you so very much for reading and for your very kind comment, Fabian. Wishing you a very nice day to enjoy...

[Samuel Dickens]

Oh, my. I feel like a pretzel--starting out straight, then being twisted into something odd. At first, I felt the old nun's pain at having given up a child. Then the joy of seeing the ring and believing the priest was her long lost son had to be restorative. A magnificent parting gift before the veil descended. Oh, but what a trick it was! Still, the peace she felt was real. A bit of dark humour here, and I love it.

[Marie]

Thank you so very much for kindly reading this poem and for your wondrous review, Sam. Yes, the peace the Sister felt was real and I guess at the end of that that mattered most of all. Yes, a little tiny bit of conflict at the end and I am so v-e-r-y pleased you enjoyed reading it. Thank you so very much again, Sam...

[red93]

Fabulous dear Marie, a lovely story, nicely told. Excellent ✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️

[Marie]

Thank you for reading and kindly commenting, dear red93. Wishing you a very nice day to enjoy...

[John the Baptist]

A surprise ending worthy of O. Henry here. The upside is that whether the dying nun knew the truth or not, at least she passed in peace.

[Marie]

Thank you for so kindly reading and for your very wise comment. I added a little motto within the poem without saying it in word and that is that everything is not always what it seems and we should not believe everything we see, dear J. B. but the important thing is, as you so rightly say, the nun crossed over to Spirit both happy and at peace. Gratitude for reading and commenting, dear friend...