Strangers, Mothers, and Orphans
- Jean Fogelberg
- Jul 18, 2022
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 24, 2022
We come into the life of a stranger
with all the helpless fury
of a storm in an aquarium.
Frail and weak, we are unable to
perform the most basic
tasks needed for survival.
But within moments of our first meeting
the stranger has taken us to her breast
and allowed us to drink from the
fountain of her heart.
In a life full of busy days
she will make us the
center of her universe.
Her every waking
awakened
moment
will be spent trying to understand
the urgent needs and rantings
of the newcomer
who doesn’t yet speak the language.
We will come to know her as
our protector;
our teacher;
our biggest fan;
our Mother.
She will teach us and learn from us.
She will lead us and chase after us.
She will hold us back and encourage us to move forward.
She will scold and fret and cheer us on from the sidelines.
Somewhere in the midst of life,
she will lose her own
Mother
and Father.
An orphan, she will move up
a branch
in the family tree
and get settled there.
For a time, we will allow ourselves to believe
that she will always be there,
one branch above,
watching over us.
But there will come a day when,
frail and weak,
she is unable to
perform any of the most basic
tasks needed for her survival.
In a life full of busy days
we will make room
for her to revolve
in our universe.
We will try to understand
the urgent needs
and frightened rantings
of this beloved stranger
who is losing the ability
to speak the language.
We will become her protector.
We will lead her
and encourage her to move forward.
Somewhere in the midst of life,
we will lose her.
We will become the orphan.
We will move up
a branch
in the family tree
and get settled there
and always remember
with gratitude,
the beautiful stranger
we came to call
Mother
Written in 2010 for my caregiver website, "Don't Lose Heart."
Copyright 2022 ©Jean Fogelberg
Please do not re-post or print without express permission.
Lost my mom at 96 - miss her every single day -- still forget that she's gone sometimes 5 years later - the urge to call her never leaves me. I was so lucky - she had a perfect mind right up until she left us. What a gift.
Two days ago I became an orphan. I cared for Mom until she passed quietly on Nov 5th, one week before her 91st birthday. My grandmother's favorite flower was the hydrangea, as was my mother's, and mine. I guess it is a Swedish thing :) I received a beautiful pillow with your artwork from Spoonflower yesterday with hydrangeas on it. As I try and rest between doing all the that have to be done, the waves of emotions just ebb and flow over me, and I am grateful for your lovely, soothing artwork on my pillow. Thank you so very much for sharing your calming thoughts and your artwork to help get us all through this phase of our lives.
I wish I could find your caregiver website. I moved my husband, who is a quadriplegic, and myself into my parent's house last January. Dad died 2 weeks later. I now care for my husband and my 90 year old bedridden mother with dementia. I try to keep a good attitude, although I miss my friends and work. I know someday this, too, shall pass. I'll be able to work on my art and travel again, but, until then, I just get through each day. I know you did the same. Watching loved ones slip away takes a bit of one's soul every time a downhill change occurs. When well meaning friends tell me that I need to take c…
My sister has ALS and has 4 grown kids, albeit in their 20’s. I hope to write something for them. Enjoy the beautiful winter!! Terese
Such a touching tale.