Monday, May 29, 2017

Muy Bonita Mamacita


image from pinterest.com


Muy Bonita Mamacita

“I did not have a mother; I had a Mama.”
--Al Green.

Fifty years ago, as some of you know, my mother 
died. She was young--I was younger. “39”, I
thought in 1966, “A good life”--as I was drafted right
out of college, heading off to boot camp while Viet
Nam raged south-southeast, & I had to wonder if
I would survive meeting Charlie, would I live to see
39 myself? There was nothing to do but lock and
load, roll the bones, close my eyes, swallow my fear
& leap blindly into the quagmire. I did make it to my
39th orbit around the planet, but the whole year was
a bumpy ride.

My Mama was an earth mother, and it seems that
sister Nature loved her so much, she was called up
to join the fraternity early on. She was then in the
earth, of the earth, beyond the earth--becoming
dust, both in the air & among the stars, a fading
photograph, a specter without a face, without a
voice, evaporating like magnificent cosmic mist
mid-morning on the magenta moors.

As I age, I must
say--my mother’s face becomes

clearer every day.  

Posted over at dVerse Poets Pub

16 comments:

brudberg said...

This is a wonderful and tender haibun, but I must say I especially admire the haiku... a stellar piece complementing the story of yourself and your mother.

Grace said...

It is hard to heal after the death of a mother. But I love the positive things you said of her, earth mother and beyond earth.

As I age, I see my mother's face in me, clearly each day ~ Love your haibun Glenn ~

You can write another one if you like about a broken cityscape, using one of your photos, smiles ~

Kim M. Russell said...

I agree with Grace on this, Glenn, it is so hard when you lose a mother.

Xenia said...

A very moving haibun Glenn and I found 'She was then in the earth, of the earth, beyond the earth' especially poignant

sarah said...

She was very young. It must have been hard. This is a lovely tribute, and I see the gold you have used to mend the cracks.

Frank Hubeny said...

Nice remembrance of your mother.

hyperCRYPTICal said...

A beautiful tribute Glenn and how difficult it must have been for you, losing her so young.
I love how you write of her as an earth mother and the warmth you offer there.
Kind regards
Anna :o]

said...

Gorgeous:

"without a
voice, evaporating like magnificent cosmic mist
mid-morning on the magenta moors"

Waltermarks said...

Your depiction of arriving in Vietnam is very good. I can see how you would wonder. And you did make your 39th orbit around the sun Hoorah! I'll bet your mom is proud of you

Anonymous said...

So sorry your mama left at such a young age. To have to face war without being able to call her must have been unbearable. It's great her face becomes clearer each day. She is so proud of you, Glenn!

Jeren_Nazuto said...

An wonderful feeling. The haiku is mesmerizing! I really loved it.

lillianthehomepoet.wordpress.com said...

Absolutely beautiful. The first paragraph of the prose takes me back to those days of fear....friends who were so gentle, forced into war. "Charley" a name that took on new meaning that I doubt today's youth would even think about.
The second paragraph is absolutely beautiful, tender, heartfelt. And the haiku is truth personified in the aging child.
I find this heartfelt and one of your posts that I want to bookmark and read again and again.

qbit said...

Just wow. Moving, and brilliant connection between the text and the haiku. The haiku is amazing.

Jane Dougherty said...

A very tender and moving recollection, makes us forget the war that lies between then and now. The haiku is perfect.

indybev said...


This is a great write, from your war experiences to the moving tribute to your mother. Such a beautiful haiku. A truly wonderful read!

Sarah Russell said...

Your haiku at the end finishes your tribute beautifully, Glenn.