Her Hands Clapping by Tere Sievers

Her Hands Clapping
by
Tere Sievers

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.

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.

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

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