Blue Mountain Arts Poetry Contest

I Thought of You
by Mari Parker

First Contest
First Place

I held my daughter this morning,
breathed in the opiate of her scent, 
dreamt of days not yet here, 
became dizzy with the joy of her being. 
I memorized every curve of her face, 
touched the down of newness on her cheeks, 
and counted, for the thousandth time, her fingers —
one by one. 
And while I listened to her breathe and felt her heartbeat 
I thought of you, Mom. 
I thought of how many times you must have touched my cheek, 
kissed my head, let my breath tickle your eyelids. 
I thought of the nights you spent calming my fears, 
soothing my fevers, and later, worrying about my fate. 

I thought of you, Mom, and for the first time in my life, 
I think I understand — 
the heartaches, the joys, the almost indescribable 
overwhelming emotions you must have had 
as I moved through life. 
Although I've thanked you before, this time it is different. 
This time, I thank you the way only another mother can. 
This time, I thank you for teaching me to love, 
for teaching me to walk tall and stand proud, 
for teaching me to sing in the rain and face life head-on. 
I thank you, Mom, for everything. But most of all, 
I thank you for loving me 
through it all.