A MOTHER’S WORDS
A mother’s words can be hurtful
Or make you feel high
They can give you strength and courage
Or make you want to die
A mother’s words stay with you
When you are far away
They can be words of wisdom
Or ones to spoil your day
My mother’s words still puzzle me
I don’t think she meant to be unkind
I wish she never had said them
I tried really not to mind.
I was never good enough
To win her words of praise
She loved the others more than me
Through all our childhood days
I tried not to let words hurt me
Some were hard to bear
Often when she’d speak to me
I wished I wasn’t there
She filled me with trepidation
Tried to instill fear
Words harsh and unflattering
For a child’s ears to hear
I’d turn away dejected
Uncertain of my worth
She praised my other siblings
God’s blessings they were on earth
I never met her expectations
Even when things I did were great
Her view of me was negative
I tried hard not to hate
I longed for her recognition
for the things that I had done
Or simple congratulations
for honors I had won
Now that I am old and grown
With children of my own
Supportive words I try to speak
To show how much I care
I remember my dejection
How her spirit made me frown
I vowed my words would never -- ever
Tear my children down