Poems to Celebrate Mothers

Written By: Shula-Aixian Yuan

Once a year, people around the world in many countries celebrate Mother’s Day. Mother’s Day is rooted in different traditions and cultures. On this day, to honor the motherhood and appreciate the love and labor of mothers, families would celebrate to thank and commemorate mothers––includes grandmothers, great-grandmothers, and stepmothers.

Festivals of honoring mothers have been held long in human history, just like mother's existence. People worship goddesses bearing the symbol of mother. For example, in the sixteenth century in England, there was the festival called "Mothering Sunday." On this day, children working would get one day off and go back to their families. The oldest child would prepare a "mothering cake" to celebrate their mother. Mother would be free from any household duties and enjoy gifts and dinner prepared by families on this day. Up to nowadays, most countries set the second Sunday of May as Mother's Day. 

On Mother’s Day, children could give a bundle of beautiful flowers, a hug, a gift a card or a meal.  In fact, when you were a kid, you probably remember making Mother's Day gifts in preschool or kindergarten or first grade, and in middle school years you might remember writing poems for your mother. This is a time honored tradition. The poets.org site offers some history and an overview of several time-honored poems that celebrate moms. Silvia Plath's "Morning Song"  is a beautiful poem celebrating moms, and there are many more.

While in this social distancing and shelter-in-place time, we may not be able to visit our moms face to face, but still, we can celebrate with a Mother's Day card and mailable Mother's Day gift of a poem to offer sincere appreciation of them with our hearts. 

​Give it a try! The Write Shop has several writing prompts you can try -- maybe share them here in celebration of your mom through the month of May!
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