One Tough Broad

For my mother. RIP

Lady you were one tough broad
Brooklyn accent and all
Surrounded by a bunch of okies
They never saw you fall

Living in that house full of boys
All you ever pumped out
You were the testosterone queen
That's what you were about

You were cursed right from your birth
A polio baby you were
It left you twisted spine half crippled
God was being absurd

I remember the fateful day you died
I was devastated
Already lost my wife and the Corps
My life was being berated

Hundreds of folks were at your funeral
You would have had a blast
You always were a party girl
You wanted fun to last

God I miss you so much sometimes
I want to curl up and cry
For the life you never got to live
For all those last goodbyes

I love you so much I always will
The torch within my heart
It just f*****g kills me lady
This world you had to part

Author's Note

My mother past away on Christmas day 2008 at the age of 56 from complications of Kypho Skoliosis. A severe curvature of the spine caused by Polio when she was an infant. She wasn't suppose to live past 18 she lived to 56. She wasn't suppose to have any kids she had 3. (All boys) If she had been normal no doubt she would have stayed in NYC and not married my Father (he knocked her up) and moved to Camden South Carolina with a bunch of dumb hill billies. She talked about New York constantly and visited every chance she got and bringing us boys with her when she could. She always encouraged us to get as far away from Camden as possible as soon as we were old enough. She knew what a miserable little nothing town it was and thanks to all our trips to NYC so did her sons. None of her boys live in Camden SC. My mother was a testament to sheer will. She was one tough broad.

Reviews

[Emily B]

your mom is proud, smiling, saying 'that's my boy, right there'

this is the best thing that i've read from you, it has true heart in it, but you know that

[Baby Ricochet]

Thank you Emily

[TL Boehm]

STANDING OVATION. Your mom would be proud. I think WC needs "tissue alert" button because this thing made me bawl. We have a lot in common - maybe that's why I am drawn to your poetry. Peace.

[Baby Ricochet]

Thank You TL

[Marie]

She sounds like a nice woman. THis is a wonderful tribute to her.

[Baby Ricochet]

thank you Marie

[MFAtkinson]

Im sorry for your loss and your writing is beautiful.

[Baby Ricochet]

Thank you MF

[rhythm&blues]

Strong poem to a strong mom, I think she'd be proud.

[Baby Ricochet]

Thank you R&B

[KAOlmsted]

I'd like to believe my Mother (The Original New York B***h) and your Mother (One Tough Broad) are smiling down at both of us from Heaven, maybe sharing a laugh ;-) I'm so sorry for your loss, Mark; I know all too well what that pain feels like. My mother was 51 when she passed of that b*****d cancer in December of 2000. I miss her like a crazy person. This is an amazing tribute to your mother, and it is, without question, 100% Baby Ricochet...you did your mother proud, I just know it ;-)

Thanks so much for sharing this with us, Mark xoxo

[Baby Ricochet]

I think they are. Thanks Kimmer

[KAOlmsted]

:-) Nice thought...

Always my pleasure, Baby.

[N!LoC]

never judge a poem by it's title... (boy... baby rico u can be so unpredictable when i least expect it :-p)

[Baby Ricochet]

Thank you N!LoC

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

First, sorry for your loss, but let me say that the sentiment in this piece is penned with such stark honesty that I feel as though I know this amazing woman just a little bit. It sounds as though she was a lot like my great grandmother...she was a Texan, and in a time when women were supposed to wear dresses and housecoats, she lived in Los Angeles and would run out into her front yard with her pistol when she would see anyone doing something they weren't supposed to do. She also had a tattoo on her thigh that said "Tex", which in the day was quite out of the norm. Anyway, my point is that we all have these strong characters in our lives, and bring them back to life each time we think upon them fondly and smile. Well penned poem.

[Baby Ricochet]

Thank you Girl friday and thank you for sharing your story, I appreciate it

[D.E. Ball]

Beautiful, man! Always hold on to the memories of your mother, and she'll stay a part of you forever.

Good sense of rhyming, and the poem flows pretty well when you say it aloud.

[Baby Ricochet]

Thank you D.E.

[D.E. Ball]

You're welcome! You can call me Don if you'd like. :D

[emmajoy]

Mothers are more often or not the heroes in this sad old world.. yours reads so special. Made me cry, this, but reckon your lady wouldn't want that.

[Baby Ricochet]

Thank you Emma. It's an emotional day for many of us.

[emmajoy]

Our Mothering Sunday was back in March ..but then, doesnt matter when, every day's full of emotions and memories.