National Poetry Month #19: To All the Mothers I Know

 Mom, Dad, and me doing dishes at Grandma Woolum's

When You Thought I Wasn't Looking

When you thought I wasn't looking

You hung my first painting on the refrigerator

And I wanted to paint another.

When you thought I wasn't looking

You fed a stray cat

And I thought it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking

You baked a birthday cake just for me
And I knew that little things were special things.

When you thought I wasn't looking

You said a prayer

And I believed there was a God
 That I could always talk to.

When you thought I wasn't looking

You kissed me good-night

And I felt loved.

When you thought I wasn't looking

I saw tears come from your eyes

And I learned that sometimes things hurt-

But that it’s alright to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking

You smiled

And it made me want to look that pretty too.

 

When you thought I wasn't looking,

You cared

And I wanted to be everything I could be.

When you thought I wasn't looking-

I looked…

And wanted to say thanks

For all those things you did

When you thought I wasn’t looking.

- Mary Rita Schilke Korzan

pictures: sister Carol first birthday, brother Bill 22nd birthday, brother Bill 4th birthday. Lots of great cakes.