Written for Sadje’s What Do You See # 257,
this is my free verse response.
In the 58 years since my birth, we were never close … just one of those sadly unfulfilled relationships between mother and daughter.
If she ever loved me, she didn’t show it. And, God forgive me, I did not love her.
Yet here I was visiting her at the nursing home.
Why? Was I driven by misplaced guilt?
Was I still seeking her approval?
Invisible. That’s the only word that came to mind when my mother turned to look at me.
Her eyes were blank, her expression impassive.
And when she reached for my hand, I couldn’t stop my tears.
NAR©2024
#WDYS
This is “Mother” by John Lennon
All text, graphics and videos are copyright for The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephant’s Trunk and The Rhythm Section and are not to be used without permission. NAR©2017-present.
The Elephant's Trunk 
Gulp. A touching piece in both senses of the word.
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Thank you, Keith. Relationships between mothers and daughters are often tense and complex. It’s sad, for sure.
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I can understand this. My relationship with my mom has been all over the place, we really hated each other for a time, then we got closer, now she doesn’t know who I am. Great song ♥
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Oh, Tiffany. I’m so sorry to know that! You wrote that you and your mom got closer; remember those times. ♡
This was the only song I knew would fit.
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I am speechless.
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Why, Keith? If I know the reason, I can respond.
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It is so powerful and sad. I cannot begin to imagine not being loved by my mother.
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Family relationships shouldn’t be difficult but many are. You’re right; it’s incredibly sad. You are blessed beyond words to have a loving relationship with your mother. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
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This is heartbreaking. I have a precious memory of just a few seconds when my Mum opened her eyes and recognised me as I sat by her bed in the nursing home. We’d gone down on the hop, and it turned out to be the last time I saw her. I wrote twice a week thereafter and she always knew when the letter hit the mat who it was from. She broke her wrist on Christmas Eve and was taken into hospital, so I addressed my letters there and the nurses read them to her. She died in hospital on January 18th 2018.
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A very lovely and touching story, Di. Thanks for sharing your thoughts today.
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Thanks Nancy.
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It is heartbreaking when mothers and daughters don’t get along. A very moving write, Nancy.
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Thank you for your very kind words, Punam. It is a heartbreak.
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You are welcome.
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My father died in his forties and I never really felt the love for him at that time.
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How sad, Glyn. You must have been quite young at the time.
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Yes, I was 14 years-old at the time.
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Oh, that is young. I’m sorry for your loss, Glyn.
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I relate to this very much, except I don’t think I’ll be visiting my mom if she’s ever in a nursing home.
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I can definitely appreciate that, Melissa. Remember the story about my mother being pushed down the stairs by her MIL? That’s when she started building walls to protect herself. Funny thing about walls; they keep the hurt from getting in but nothing ever gets out. 🖤
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This is a real tearjerker and written so well.
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Thank you, Jim. Not everyone’s mom has the capacity for love.
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Very powerful N. Every word, precise.
❤️
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Thank you, my dear friend. That means so very much to me.❤️
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Relationships can be so complicated 💜💜💜
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For sure! 🩶🩶🩶
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It happens and it’s sad. Very. How to redeem? That was a great ending. Thanks.
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Very kind of you, cara. Thank you so much. ♡
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Oh that gave me a sucker punch. It is so terribly sad when mother/daughter relationships are like this. Way too many. I consider myself very lucky!
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It shouldn’t be this hard but it is.
Blessed are those who learn from their mother’s mistakes and do not repeat them.
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It shouldn’t. And I have a problem – it’s an Aries thing – of being too spontaneous on the moment and then regretting later.
Ah well… I don’t think I take after my mother who always said NO!
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I’m too spontaneous and often regret it also but I’m not an Aires. I always thought it was a Pisces thing …. wearing our hearts on our sleeves.
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Well, we are side-by-side on the charts…
I don’t necessarily wear my heart on my sleeve but I do have trouble saying no…
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Can’t Say No used to be my middle names.
Then I got smart and replaced them with Fuck Off!
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Gonna get much better. Especially now!!
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Yeah, baby!!
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A gripping tale.💔💔✍✨
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Thank you, Jude.
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My pleasure🙏
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touching, Nancy…. emotions expressed in such different ways…🤍
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Mother/daughter relationships can be extremely difficult, Destiny. It shouldn’t be that way, but it is. Thank you, always. ♡
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shouldn’t be…but can’t be helped at times too… pleasure always, Nancy…🤍
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Oh this is so evocative Nancy. Love expressed through touch, never through words. Thanks for joining in.
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You are so right, Sadje. Thank you! ♡
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Most welcome dear friend ★💕❁
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