white horses whisper on the sea
seagulls are clinging to the breeze
straight line where
the steamships meet the sky
waves are welling
like mothers' teary eyes
and they'll break for evermore
on this green and rocky shore
mothers are clinging to their flesh
farewells are whispered
and all are blessed
seagulls are screaming
now they're bound
for america
taken by the waves
and they're gone for evermore
from this starved and tearful shore
don't rush me
the steam can still be seen, she said
white horses roll my babies
back to me
she said
burning turf
is crackling sickly sweet
her bruised kettle
brews some bitter leaves
steepling rocks of galway and donegal
like the mothers who gave their all
and now they're alone for evermore
with their blood on distant shores
don't rush me
the steam can still be seen
white horses roll my blessed babies
back to me
don't rush me
i hear the seagulls scream
she said
white horses
whisper things to me
The poem tells the story of mothers when they let their kids go abroad, or in this case, America. The poem is read with a wistful tone, due to the adjectives selectively used here, which makes reading it all the more dramatic. Mothers, whom sacrifice tooth and nail for anything their kids ask for and willing to do anything for their child, experience great sorrow and woes. They cry and sob out their farewells and hold onto them until the final call of the ship, because of the overwhelming pain it takes to let their children go. They’ll watch the ship that took their kids away from them sail away, seeing them off until the last puff of steam from the ship, until they’re at the other end of the world. After being abandoned by the people they love most, they will retreat into their lonely homes, full of sorrow and hope for the next time they may see their kids again through the sign of the steam returning to shore. It’s a poem that resonates deeply to me, as it is what I imagine my mother, and other mothers, is experiencing through right now. The night before I left for Jogja, she told me, that there is nothing more painful for mothers than the act of letting one’s child go. This poem made me realize just how much pain that were behind her words.
ReplyDeleteI love poem. My first sentence describes my love for poems, but it does not mean that I am an expert of these things. But, I do read poems. I personally think that there is no significant mistake of a poet on their poem. Poem is an expression of poet’s thoughts, screaming their cacophony between the poet’s mind, beautifully. I love the rhymes in those lines. The poet mention and repeat same sentences to emphasise the meaning, I think. But, unfortunately, I wish I could see this poem’s poet name. I think it is one of the essential things on writing. But then again, I’m not an expert so, please correct me if I am wrong. I think, the meaning more like expressing mother’s feeling when her child is about to leave their home to another place. Indeed, I think the connection between children and mother couldn’t be seperated even with distance.
ReplyDeleteWhen I read this poem, I can feel the love that mothers give toward their children. The sincerity, pureness of mother’s love cannot be exchanged with anything in this world. This poem tells us about the sadness of a mother when she got to let her children go to study abroad, America in this case. Every mother definitely loves their children, in their own way, so, they surely wants their children to have the best in everything, especially education. It is mothers’ dream to have their children achieve successful life, and that will start from having a good education. So, for mother to let their children go for higher education is one of the greatest sacrifice, yet one of mother’s greatest hope and dream. For every children out there, especially those studying apart from their mothers, know that your mother hope the best for you, therefore you should make your mother proud by having a good education.
ReplyDeleteI dont really read poems, but once I read this poem, I can feel the emotions in it. I want to say that mothers love is something which is beyond imagination. It is the purest form of love itself. And somehow, it makes me miss my mom even more, she is the greatest thing I have ever known, my muse. Being a mother is not easy, I believe. I know it is hard for my mom to get up everyday knowing these little people rely on her and cleaning up the mess I made, however she still supports me. In this poem it tells a story about a mother that has struggle letting her children go far from her, just like what all the mothers would feel when their children are no longer with them, the feeling of losing someone. Reading poems is out of my expertise but I know some people would enjoy reading it like I do.
ReplyDeleteI think this poem is asking us to explain what is the meaning of the word ‘Mom’ for us. For this answer, let us assume that the word has lots of meanings. ‘Mom’ is with whom we fall in love at first sight right after we are born. ‘Mom’ is someone who has gone sleepless just to make us sleep. ‘Mom’ is someone wo will never let us go to sleep with empty stomach. A mother understands what a child does not say. A mother’s love is so unconditional and nothing can replace it as well. I believe that the love a mother gives to her child is the purest form of love. For me, my mother is like an angel in all of my lives and she is the one who cares, nurtures, and loves me right from the moment I came into this world. Mother’s love is what you can not reach up to, and there is no replacement for her love.
ReplyDeleteThe greatest love a person could get is from a parent, especially the love of a mother. Most of the mothers in the world, both biological mothers and adoptive or foster mothers, love their children more than anything in the whole world, including their partner. I know there are some children who think their mothers don't love them as much as other's mothers love their children, but very deep down in the mother's heart, I believe they love their children so much, yet don't know what to do to show them their love. No matter how worst their children act, no matter how badly their behaviour toward their own mothers or others; mothers always want to protect and love them as they were just little kids who don't know much about this adult world. That's how great a love of mothers and I'm thankful to have a mother, back in home, who loves and cares about me since the day I was born.
ReplyDelete