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Janice Pearce

Aug 02, 2008 ⭐ View statistics (Premium feature)

Mother's Reach

The sun began to rise
on the dunes of Lake Michigan
silhouetting child and mother
building castles in the sand

A summer day spent together,
in waves on crystal shores
listening to the gentle rhythms
broadcast from the lighthouse horn.

The shadows start to fall
and drift across her face
she dances, leaving footprints
in the sand for Mom to chase.

Lake Michigan's waves will soon
wash all their footprints away
as if the two had not been
on the beach, that special day.

I am no longer that little girl
building castles on the beach
but I cherish every memory
being within my mother's reach.

— Janice Pearce, Aug 02, 2008

About This Poem

About the Author

Country/Region: USA

More from this author

Critiques

A

17 years 10 months ago

That made me want to cry

Very vivid, very emotionally powerful. I like how clearly you can "see" it.

17 years 10 months ago

Arrow

Thank you for your comment, You made my day. I am glad you could seee it!

17 years 10 months ago

Absolutely Beautiful

Janice whenever I think you have outdone yourself, you hit me in the gut again! Wonderful read. Rett: "On life; Ah such a wondrous thing, beauty and love to behold and experience! On death; I can wait to see..." Rett 2008.

17 years 10 months ago

Rett

Thank you for such a beautiful comment. I wrote this over a year ago and couldn't make up my mind if I wanted to post it. But then along comes a poet named Rett who posted a poem about a house [a tribute to his mother] and I went digging for this one. Again, thank you!

17 years 10 months ago

Well, if it made you post this

I am extremely happy I posted it because I totally enjoyed this read. Respectfully, Rett: "On life; Ah such a wondrous thing, beauty and love to behold and experience! On death; I can wait to see..." Rett 2008.

17 years 10 months ago

Very special tribute

Smiles:) Barbara This is beautiful Janice

17 years 10 months ago

Barbara

Thank you for your kind words I always appreciate your feedback!

17 years 10 months ago

Mother

A beautiful poem, Janice

17 years 10 months ago

Linda

Thank you for your kind words always appreciated~

P

poewriter58

17 years 10 months ago

Janice

Excellent writing this has to be your best one yet. no other comments to addd to those already here well done Chrys

17 years 10 months ago

Chrys

Thanks for your comment, I appreciate your feedback always~

17 years 10 months ago

Me too Janice

Very very nice :) Mark

17 years 10 months ago

Mark

I am glad you got a chance to read this, and your comments are appreciated~ Thank you!

Q

17 years 10 months ago

this is not

merely a piece of compelling nostalgia--though it certainly is that--it is also a gorgeous mediation on mortality. yes, our footsteps fade, even on the most special of days as you've written here! great job

17 years 10 months ago

Mother's Reach

Now, you're making me blush~ Your thoughts are near and dear to my heart Thanks!

P

prayersbyPatty

17 years 10 months ago

Wow

Your poem as everyone said is great. You images and the mother, left footprints on my heart. Very beautiful, descriptive, was it at one of those great lakes? Yea, those are great lakes.......... footprints on my heart of memories. Thanks for sharing. Patty

17 years 10 months ago

Patty

Lake Michigan, Patty. Our family spent many summer days there and it is a part of who I am today. Thank you for your kind words~

Z

zarul

17 years 10 months ago

It touches me, deeply

and u're to be blame for that. (LAUGHING) IT teaches my young mind to love, appreciate and care for for my mum, when she is still around. to love me, to give me strength, to shower me with drains of energy, and passion. most importantly, to help me reaching my dream. 5 thumbs up for u. yeah

17 years 10 months ago

zarul

I'm glad my poem made you think about what we take for granted. Thank you for you vote and I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

17 years 10 months ago

Cheering!!

It had to! Something this beautiful just had to make spotlight! Congratulations! Respectfully, Rett: "On life; Ah such a wondrous thing, beauty and love to behold and experience! On death; I can wait to see..." Rett 2008.

17 years 10 months ago

Rett

Thanks for all your support Rett It means a lot to me~

17 years 10 months ago

I like it but I think that can be more beautiful than that...

The poem is expressive, tries to get some fractured rhythm and rhyme, the idea is nice but I think that working a bit to the number of syllables and to the poetic style figures would be an excellent one. The memories are beautiful as well. Best wishes, Marius

17 years 10 months ago

Marius

Thank you for your comment~Food for thought here

B

17 years 10 months ago

After a careful reading through ...

of all the comments posted here, I've now decided I'd most like to second quillsvein. But the rest aren't far behind. Thanx much, Chuck

17 years 10 months ago

Chuck

Now I've got to blush again! Thanks Chuck, you opinion matters to me~

D

DarkinAZ

17 years 10 months ago

Janice ....

This is Great! that is all I can say, Absolutely Great! Sincerely, Mark

17 years 10 months ago

Mark

Glad you got to read this, and always appreciate you comments~

17 years 10 months ago

Hi Janice...

I knew this was something special by the amount of comments... quill was right on the money with the between the lines beauty of this poem...much enjoyed reading the poem and the comments.. Richard

17 years 10 months ago

Richard

I am glad you thought it to be special Moon. The memories are dear to my heart, and I'm glad that you felt it~

P

prayersbyPatty

17 years 10 months ago

I could read this over and over

Janice, Its good that you wrote this, I too miss being within my mothers reach. By reading all the comments it also sounds like you influenced others to appreciate their Mom.... I thought she would live forever, she was so strong. tissue time. Patty

17 years 10 months ago

Patty

It warms my heart to know that it brought you some joy. I hope everyone who has a mother alive will give her a big hug to let her know she is loved. Thanks for your kind words Patty! Sorry to hear that your mother is no longer within your reach~

A

amalzamani

17 years 10 months ago

Nice

Memories and Style...enjoyable one...thank you Janice!

17 years 10 months ago

amalzamani

You are very welcome I'm glad you got a chance to read this, and comment!

R

17 years 10 months ago

Hi Janice

Sorry to have not read this earlier, This is so discriptive and flowed so well, loved it, from the begining to the end, Quite Beautiful. Kindest Regards Peter ~~~~~~~~~Creativity Is to think more efficiently~~~~~~~~~~

17 years 10 months ago

Peter

So many poems, so little time I understand. Thanks for your comment Peter I appreciate it,~

17 years 9 months ago

I’m with arrow on this

I'm with arrow on this one. I'm so glad for you, that yolu have such wonderful memories of your mother. Always, Cat

17 years 9 months ago

Cat

Very nice ones and hopefully my children and grandchildren will have them too! As always thank you Cat~

17 years 8 months ago

enjoyed reading again

Smiles:) Barbara Beautiful flow

17 years 8 months ago

Barbara

Quite different from the first, I am glad you like the revision! "There's no trick to being a humorist when you have the whole government working for you." Will Rogers

I

ivanovich316

17 years 8 months ago

A beautiful verse

I very much enjoyed reading this work. It functions well on all levels and evokes a strong emotional response along with the basic nostalgia. I paritcularly enjoy the rhythmical changes in the second stanza. The change in rythm of the third and fourth lines parallels the description of "gentle rythms". It really adds to the feeling. The only glitch I feel is in the fourth stanza, the phrase "lake's waves" is a bit awkward. Thanks for the opportunity to enjoy your memories. John

17 years 8 months ago

John

After I posted this I caught the little glitch too. You are spot on, I will revise this today. Thank you for your insight, and your comments! "There's no trick to being a humorist when you have the whole government working for you." Will Rogers

P

prayersbyPatty

17 years 8 months ago

Wow is all I can say

I liked the first one, but this one is very different, and I loved it. Very beautiful Jan throwing rainbows again Patty

17 years 8 months ago

Janice,

When you write of childhood Memories, they invoke memories of my own mother. you do it so easily, no effort at all. Give me more of the same I can eat non stop!! Kudos to this fantastic write. Thanks, Eddie

17 years 8 months ago

Eddie

Thank you so much, That comment means so much to me~ "There's no trick to being a humorist when you have the whole government working for you." Will Rogers

17 years 3 months ago

Mother's Reach

Kelsey, If it brings forth tears or smiles or gently stirs the soul, then the story was beautifully told. Thank you for the read! ______________________________________________________ Income-tax forms should be more realistic by allowing the taxpayer to list "Uncle Sam" as a dependent Anonymous

L

LissaMine

17 years 3 months ago

Just loved it... 5/5

As part of our chat tonight we read your poem. Thankyou for writing that. It took me back to being with my mum. We live so far apart now and I wish we could be closer. It brought a tear to my eye. Such memories I have of our time together. This is a beautiful piece. I loved it. You are a brilliant writer Lissa I hold it true, whatever befall; I feel it, when I sorrow most; 'Tis better to have loved and lost Than never to have loved at all.

17 years 3 months ago

Mother's Reach

LissaMine, I think the brillance was the idea of doing this project! Thank you for you comment It means so much to me. I am glad you thought my poem to be beautiful. ______________________________________________________ Income-tax forms should be more realistic by allowing the taxpayer to list "Uncle Sam" as a dependent Anonymous

T

17 years 3 months ago

Janice

During my room on tuesday night, your poem was picked to read and comment on. I love the imagery and tenderness of this poem. I think it is well written. Thanks for sharing it with us. Live, Laugh and Love (and don't forget to write) Tink

17 years 3 months ago

Mother's Reach

Tink, The thanks goes to you, for the imaginative idea that you came up with. You are one creative person, but then again, you are a poet! Thank you for your comments on my poem I appreciate it. ______________________________________________________ Income-tax forms should be more realistic by allowing the taxpayer to list "Uncle Sam" as a dependent Anonymous

Morgana Tragic Proprietress

Morgana Tragic…

17 years 3 months ago

Stunning Janice…love the

Stunning Janice...love the oceanic beach imagery between mother and daughter...actually reminds me of my mother and I when we lived out on the west coast...we'd get milkshakes and sit on the rocky beach and talk for hours, long after the milkshakes were gone...brings back vivid and beautiful memories...thanks for it. Mother's Reach was read in Tink's chat.

17 years 3 months ago

Mother's Reach

Katie, I am glad it brought back share memories with you and your mother. The sound of waves still brings peace to my soul. I'm glad you were able to enjoy it in chat~ ______________________________________________________ Income-tax forms should be more realistic by allowing the taxpayer to list "Uncle Sam" as a dependent Anonymous