Happy Mother's Day

To all those with mothers in their lives, and to all those who are mothers, either in blood or in spirit, Happy Mother's Day.

And I make no apology for the sentimentality in this poem. Sometimes it's not about craft or high art. This is for my mother, whose greatest gift to me is the knowledge that I am both loved and capable of loving.

Mother's Day, 2007

This is no memoir or expose--
nothing that would make reality
television or talk show. No shock
jock radio host will ever spew

his vitriol, mention our names
in the same breath with celebrity
improprieties. There is no story here.

Some director might manipulate
details, dramatize events. Sentimental's
not as marketable as scandal,
but it still plays well in the ratings.

I never watch prime-time pablum,
heroism or self-sacrifice worthy
of twelve second sound bites. You

chose to mother me. What experts
said never cracked the hard covers
of their best-sellers. Their wisdom
made better booster seats. I know

this will hardly stop the presses,
but then simple truth rarely sells.
This is no memoir or expose,

only the love that was lent me,
freely returned, with interest.