Under the Willow Tree
Under the willow tree, her shade my calm,
I see so bent by storms her trunk, how far
The winds have twisted every limb, each scar
Where lightning struck; yet there’s a quiet psalm
Of gratitude that whispers in her leaves
Each time another rainfall comes to spend
Its quenching kindness on her and to send
New hope down deep—for anyone who grieves
Or wonders how to pass through life’s travail
Finds shelter in her shadow—knows the limbs
That seem to weep are only singing hymns,
Embracing in their gentle sway the frail.
So one fine sapling, tended with such care,
Becomes the home for all who shelter there.
And now her roots are deep, her branches wide
Enough to draw more birds to them to nest,
Assured, secure and loved, and full at rest,
No matter what the world is like outside—
Just as I am, beneath the willow’s arm
Of graceful comfort, grateful for her wise,
Kind lesson to look upward to the skies
For blessed rain, and sun to keep us warm,
For sweet reminders of the Gardener
Who made the willow grow, and gave her strength
To nurture others in her shade, at length,
Upon the graces planted there in her:
So one fine sapling, tended with such care,
Becomes the home for all who shelter there.
Thank you, Mom, for the nurturing, the love, and the will to live as an example of bending but not breaking in the storms. Happy 80th Birthday!
Art-Colored Glasses 
What a beautiful tribute to your Mother. Have a lovely weekend xxx
For a beautiful mother, after all. 🙂 Thank you, dearest J. And the weekend has been wonderful as we celebrated Mom’s birthday! Have a grand week.
❤
K
beautiful words, and photos, and a lovely birthday wish for your Mom
Thank you! And we’ve now had some fantastic partying to top it off, too. 🙂
xoxo
Beautiful love filled happy birthday wishes to your dear mom Kath!
I will be toasting in your mom’s honour this evening.
Hugs to you from a sunny South Africa.
🙂 Mandy xoxoxo
Thank you, dearest—I know she appreciated every long-distance bit of well wishing as much as the close at hand! It was a grand celebration, and I will have to share the story of it in brief here soon. 🙂 Hugs to you, too!!!
❤
Kath
What a beautiful tribute!
This was such a moving prose. Made me get a bit misty eyed. .. My mother passed 8 years ago. I still miss her daily.
I’ll bet your mother is hugging you long-distance right now, just hearing you say that. (((HUGS))) from me, too.
xo
I hope your Mom had a wonderful birthday, Kathryn, and that the year ahead is full of Life’s blessings.
Thank you, John! I think she loved the whole thing as much as the rest of us did. And considering that during all of her back and hip surgeries (and all of the complications of her health during that time) not so long ago, we didn’t have huge confidence she’d *see* 80, this is a big bonus! Happiness and blessings to you and Zia and tutta la famiglia Bartolini, too. 😀
xo,
K
How very sweet and thoughtful:)
Yes, that’s my mama! 😉
xo