"My Dear Mother's Face"

In the process of emptying not only my own house because of our move to northern Virginia, but also my parents' house because of my dad's move into a retirement community, we have found quite a few treasures, to say the least!  :)  The most precious to me by far are the paper treasures: old family pictures, letters, journals, etc.  I simply cannot bear to throw them out without taking the time to look through them and capture them in some way for this electronic age!  What that really means is that both my dad and I have, in our new homes, some storage boxes completely stuffed with pictures and papers, awaiting the time "when life settles down" and I have time to deal with them.  :)  

In the latest load I brought back with me to our new house were two photo albums that contain images that are, to me, priceless--like this photo of my mother, sitting in her parents' kitchen, probably in the 1970s.  I love her dear face.  And that reminds me of a poem I read in a little book my parents had on their shelves, written by a local man that is, I suspect, either somehow related to my family or else known by my family for years and years.

My Dear Mother's Face

~ John Michael Roller ~

While looking upon the pictures of life

When the day was past with its toil and strife,

I sought for a scene in memory's hall

The most beautiful there that I could recall.

I viewed with awe a mountain scene;

Another of ocean with sunset sheen;

But of all that hung in the gallery's space,

The fairest indeed was my dear mother's face.

The time I remember as yesterday

When we stood on the porch near the close of the day,

The evening glow where the vines interlace

Revealed the lines in her lovely face.

She spoke of those in her life who were dear,

In tones which always would cast out fear;

Through all life's burdens she was able to bear,

In all our sorrows she was ready to share.

And then came the news to a distant state

That I hasten home, lest I be too late

To see upon earth that familiar face

Which helped me to God and saving grace.

Her body now lies on a nearby slope;

Her spirit within gives courage and hope;

Neither time nor change will ever efface

The memory I hold of my dear mother's face.

~ photo by Robin Skievaski Photography ~