My Cart 
Login 

Previous

Her Hands Clapping
by
Tere Sievers


Next
 
 
Running, cheeks flushed,
we leaped into the drifts,
packed fat snowballs
till our hands began to freeze,
those thin woolen gloves
no match for twenty degrees.
We wore wide rubber boots
over our shoes
but the snow set inside.
Socks, wet with melting snow,
soon caked with ice.
When the wind came up
we rushed the back door,
fell into the kitchen,
yanked off boots, tossed hats,
set the frozen gloves
to dry on the radiator
as Mom rubbed 
our chilled hands warm.
 
Now twenty years gone
I remember her hands best;
her hands feeling for fever,
wrapping a fleecy blanket
around the newest baby,
washing dishes in a sudsy sink,
folding sheets into perfect squares,
her hands always in the audience
clapping for us, always clapping.
 

© by Tere Sievers.
Used with the author’s permission.

 


 

 

Tere Sievers, originally a Jersey girl, works and lives in Long Beach, California with her husband and their chickens. For the enjoyment of the children in her life, she has published a book of children's poems, Blueberry Pancakes and Monkey Pajamas. Silver Birch Press has included her work in four of their anthologies. 

 

 


Post New Comment:
jakrogers:
What great memories and such a lovely tribute to your mother!
Posted 05/08/2014 03:25 PM
mimi:
o yes, wonderful memories for those of us lucky enough to have a mom like that...
Posted 05/08/2014 12:20 PM
paradea:
How beautiful! Bravo, Tere!!
Posted 05/08/2014 12:18 PM
peninsulapoet:
Beautiful poem.
Posted 05/08/2014 10:02 AM
dotief@comcast.net:
Fabulous! "Always clapping."
Posted 05/08/2014 09:29 AM
erinsnana:
This is wonderful! It brought back memories of my dear departed Mum!
Posted 05/08/2014 07:03 AM
rksanders@charter.net:
A lovely memory poem. Thank you.
Posted 05/08/2014 06:36 AM
vscholtz:
You brought back memories for me, too. I can feel that ring of snow around my ankle. And I surely remember my own mother when I read this. Thanks
Posted 05/08/2014 06:08 AM
TheSilverOne:
Beautiful tribute. Stirs memories of being both a daughter, then a mother..
Posted 05/07/2014 11:36 PM
Janet Leahy:
This poem holds a lovely memory, wonderful ending, thanks Tere.
Posted 05/07/2014 11:26 PM


Contents of this web site and all original text and images therein are copyright © by Your Daily Poem. All rights reserved.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Purchasing books through any poet's Amazon links helps to support Your Daily Poem.
The material on this site may not be copied, reproduced, downloaded, distributed, transmitted, stored, altered, adapted,
or otherwise used in any way without the express written permission of the owner.