Celebrating the Power of Motherhood: 10 Inspiring Poems to Share with Mom
Mother’s Day is just around the corner, and what better way to show our moms some love than by celebrating the powerful, beautiful, and nurturing force that is motherhood! As we all know, being a mom is no easy feat, and it takes a lot of hard work, love, and dedication. So, in honor of all the amazing moms out there, I’ve put together a list of 10 inspiring poems that will warm your heart and fill you with gratitude. These poems are a perfect way to express your love and appreciation for your mom on this special day. So, whether you’re looking for a way to say “thank you,” or just want to feel all the feels, keep reading! These beautiful words of love and appreciation are sure to leave you feeling inspired and uplifted.
Poem #1: “To My Mother” by Edgar Allan Poe
To My Mother
Because I feel that, in the Heavens above,
The angels, whispering to one another,
Can find, among their burning terms of love,
None so devotional as that of “Mother,”
Therefore by that dear name I long have called you—
You who are more than mother unto me,
And fill my heart of hearts, where Death installed you
In setting my Virginia’s spirit free.
My mother—my own mother, who died early,
Was but the mother of myself; but you
Are mother to the one I loved so dearly,
And thus are dearer than the mother I knew
By that infinity with which my wife
Was dearer to my soul than its soul-life.
This poem by Edgar Allan Poe is a tribute to the transformative power of maternal love and the lasting impact it can have on our lives. The speaker expresses his belief that the love of a mother is unmatched, and shares his own personal experience of a mother figure who filled his heart of hearts and helped him cope with grief and loss. Through his words, we are reminded of the incredible strength and devotion of mothers, and the ways in which their love can shape and uplift us even after they are gone.
Poem #2: “Mother to Son” by Langston Hughes
Mother to Son
Well, son, I’ll tell you:
Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.
It’s had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor—
Bare.
But all the time
I’se been a-climbin’ on,
And reachin’ landin’s,
And turnin’ corners,
And sometimes goin’ in the dark
Where there ain’t been no light.
So boy, don’t you turn back.
Don’t you set down on the steps
’Cause you finds it’s kinder hard.
Don’t you fall now—
For I’se still goin’, honey,
I’se still climbin’,
And life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.
This poem is a heartfelt message from a mother to her son, encouraging him to persevere in the face of adversity. The speaker describes the difficulties she has faced in life, comparing her journey to a staircase full of obstacles such as tacks, splinters, and missing boards. Despite the challenges, she has kept going, climbing and turning corners even in the darkness. Her message to her son is one of resilience, urging him not to give up when things get tough. Instead, she implores him to keep pushing forward, even when it feels hard, because she herself is still climbing and has not given up. The poem’s powerful message is one of perseverance and hope, reminding us that we can always keep climbing, no matter how difficult the path may seem.
Poem #3: “To My Mother” By Christina Rossetti
To My Mother,
BY CHRISTINA ROSSETTI
To-day’s your natal day;
Sweet flowers I bring:
Mother, accept, I pray
My offering.
And may you happy live,
And long us bless:
Receiving as you give
Great happiness.
May you always receive as much happiness as you give. That’s the beautiful message of this poem by Christina Rossetti – a simple but heartfelt expression of love and appreciation for a beloved mother on her birthday.
Poem #4: “Wishing You A Wonderful Day’ by Anon
Wishing You a Wonderful Day
Sending this, Mom,
Especially to say
Wishing you a happy
And wonderful day…
And to tell you this day
Will always be one
For remembering the many
Sweet things you have done!
Poem #5: “Mother” by Lola Ridge
Mother
LOLA RIDGE
Your love was like moonlight
turning harsh things to beauty,
so that little wry souls
reflecting each other obliquely
as in cracked mirrors . . .
beheld in your luminous spirit
their own reflection,
transfigured as in a shining stream,
and loved you for what they are not.You are less an image in my mind
than a luster
I see you in gleams
pale as star-light on a gray wall . . .
evanescent as the reflection of a white swan
shimmering in broken water.
This poem is a beautiful tribute to the transformative power of love. Ridge compares the love she received to moonlight, which has the ability to turn even the harshest things beautiful. She describes how the mother’s love was like a shining stream, reflecting back the beauty in those around them and helping them see her own worth. Even in the Ridge’s mind, her mother is less an image and more of a luster, a shimmering light that inspires and uplifts her. Ultimately, this poem is a celebration of the power of a mother’s love to bring out the best in ourselves.
Poem #6: “Wonderful Mother” by Patt O’Reilly
Wonderful Mother
God made a wonderful mother,
A mother who never grows old;
He made her smile of the sunshine,
And He molded her heart of pure gold;
In her eyes He placed bright shining stars,
In her cheeks fair roses you see;
God made a wonderful mother,
And He gave that dear mother to me.
~ Pat O’Reilly
This poem is a tribute to all mothers, highlighting their nurturing and loving nature, and their invaluable presence in our lives.
Poem #7: “My Mother Kept A Garden” by Anon
My Mother kept a garden,
A garden of the heart.
She planted all the good things
That gave my life its start.
She turned me to the sunshine
And encouraged me to dream.
Fostering and nurturing
The seeds of self-esteem.
And when the winds and rain came,
She protected me enough.
But not too much because she knew
I’d need to stand up strong and tough.
Her constant good example
Always taught me right from wrong.
Markers for my pathway
That will last a lifetime long.
I am my Mother’s garden.
I am her legacy.
And I hope today she feels the love
Reflected back from me.
—Unknown
This touching and heartfelt poem pays tribute to a mother’s love and nurturing influence in the life of her child. The garden is used as a metaphor for the heart, representing the love and care that a mother puts into raising and guiding her child. The poem speaks of a mother who not only provides protection and support, but also encourages her child to grow and thrive, instilling in them the values and qualities that will serve them well throughout their life.
Poem #8: “Mother’s Day” by David Lehman
Mother’s Day (by David Lehman)
The brain has chambers
on different floors
a warren of offices
upstairs a library
a wine cellar below
but the soul is simple
like a mother who
packs your lunchbox
and you walk home
wearing the raincoat
she made you take
though it is sunny
and mild my mother
when I was four was
talking to another
mother and I strayed off
and went to the park
and found someone to
walk me home where I sat
on a car waiting for
her to come back she was
frantic but when she saw
me she laughed the soul
is a hungry boy eating
her soup in the kitchen
In this poem, Lehman talks about how the soul is like a mother – simple and loving. Even though our brains are complex, our souls are like mothers who take care of us, pack our lunchboxes, and make sure we’re safe. The poem conveys a sense of love, gratitude, and nostalgia, celebrating the enduring bond between a mother and child. The simple act of a mother making soup for her child in the kitchen becomes a metaphor for the nourishment and comfort that a mother provides throughout a child’s life.
Poem #9: “Blessing for Mother” by John O’Donohue
Mother,
Your voice learning to soothe
Your new child
Was the first home-sound
We hear before we could see.Your young eyes
Gazing on us
Was the first mirror
Where we glimpsed
What to be seen
Could mean.Mother,
Your nearness tilled the air,
An umbilical garden for the seeds
Of thought that stirred in our infant hearts.You nurtured and fostered this space
To root all our quietly gathering intensity
That could grow nowhere else.Mother,
Formed from the depths beneath your heart,
You know us from the inside out.
No deeds or seas or others
Could ever erase that.Amen.
In this beautiful and heartfelt poem, O’Donohue celebrates the enduring bond between a mother and child. The poem speaks to the profound connection that begins with a mother’s first nurturing touch and continues to grow and evolve throughout life.
Poem #10: “Blessing for a Mother-to-Be” by John O’Donohue
From Benedictus by John O’Donohue
Nothing could have prepared
Your heart to open like this.From beyond the skies and the stars
This echo arrived inside you
And started to pulse with life;
Each beat a tiny act of growth,
Traversing all our ancient shapes
On its way home to itself.
Once it began, you were no longer your own.
A new, more courageous you, offering itself
In a new way to a presence you can sense
But you have not seen or known.It has made you feel alone
In a way you never knew before;
Everyone else sees only from the outside
What you feel and feed
With every fibre of your being.Never have you travelled further inward
Where words and thoughts become half-light
Unable to reach the fund of brightness,
Strengthening inside the night of your womb.Like some primeval moon,
Your soul brightens
The tides of essence
That flow to your child.You know your life has changed forever,
For in all the days and years to come,
Distance will never be able to cut you off
From the one you now carry
For nine months under your heart.May you be blessed with quiet confidence
That destiny will guide you and mind you.May the emerging spirit of your child
Imbibe encouragement and joy
From the continuous music of your heart, so that it can grow with ease.
Expectant of wonder and welcome
When its form is fully filled.And it makes its journey out
To see you and settle at last
Relieved, and glad in your arms.
I included this poem as a tribute to expectant mothers on Mother’s Day, to celebrate the unique journey and emotions that come with carrying a child. It’s an exciting and emotional time to be expecting, full of wonder, joy, and the anticipation of the little one’s arrival. The poem reminds us of the beauty and sacredness of this experience, and encourages mothers-to-be to trust in their own strength and the guidance of destiny as they prepare to welcome their child into the world.
Motherhood is one of the most powerful and transformative experiences a person can have, and poetry has a way of capturing that raw emotion and beauty like nothing else.
These pieces celebrate the powerful bond between a mother and child, the infinite love, and the selfless sacrifices that come with motherhood. Let’s honor the women who brought us into this world and shaped us into who we are today, by sharing the gift of poetry. Take a moment to send these poems to your mother, grandmother, aunt, or any mother-figure who has touched your heart. Let them know how much they mean to you, and how their love and support have made all the difference.
Happy Mother’s Day to all the incredible mothers out there!
