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Nothing can surpass the purity of the mother’s love. As a mother, you might remember moments that bring joy, like when your son first called you ‘Mom.’ This strong bond is often reflected in poetry. Sharing some mother-son poems can be a good idea if you wish to express your pristine and serene bond. As the great poet, Rudyard Kipling said, ‘God could not be everywhere, and therefore he made mothers.’ She is a child’s first friend, teacher, and everything. Maternal love can heal wounds and make a child feel empowered and blessed.
So, keep reading this post as we bring some poems that share the magic of a mother’s love for her son. These heartfelt poems express gratitude for the unconditional love that a mother showers upon her son. These heartwarming lines carry stories of a mother’s profound love for her son. A few even depict a son’s admiration for his lovely mother. Pick a relatable mother and son poem and share the warmth of this beautiful relationship.
60+ Mother And Son Poems To Read And Feel The Love
These poems help develop a beautiful bond between a mother and son. Sravani Saha, a mother and author, shares how she encourages her son Ryan to write poems with her. She says, “The kid and I collaborate on writing poems besides deciding how many times a month we should eat ice-creams, which movies we must watch together ….I hope we really enjoy doing more of this even when he grows up. But for now, I don’t want him to grow up (i).”
Read the poems below and share your favorite ones with your mother or son and celebrate the unconditional love you both have for each other.
1. A Mother Knows Her Son
Image: IStock
My dear, sweet boy
I’ve seen it all
from your first kicks
to your first kiss.
You might think right now
you know it all,
but I’ve seen more of you
than you ever knew.
A Mother knows her son
better than anyone ever could
because I gave you life
and help you shine your light.
—Michele Meleen
2. Mother To Son
Well, son, I’ll tell you:
Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.
It’s had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor—
Bare.
But all the time
I’se been a-climbin’ on,
And reachin’ landin’s,
And turnin’ corners,
And sometimes goin’ in the dark
Where there ain’t been no light.
So boy, don’t you turn back.
Don’t you set down on the steps
’Cause you finds it’s kinder hard.
Don’t you fall now—
For I’se still goin’, honey,
I’se still climbin’,
And life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.
—Langston Hughes, poetryfoundation.org
3. We Go Together Like Mother and Son
Peanut butter and jelly,
moon and star,
these iconic pairings
can’t compare to what we are.
We go together like mother and son
a match made in heaven.
We’re stuck together
whether you’re seven or eleven!
When two things fit
like the Earth and the sun,
they can only be
mother and son.
—Michele Meleen
4. To My Son
A mother’s love is deep.
The more you grow, the more I weep.
You act all grown
But know you’ll never be alone
For you are my son,
And a mother’s love is never done.
—Alicia Daly
5. Haiku For My New Born Son
Soft sounds from your lips,
The scent of your skin so sweet,
Love you, precious boy.
—Kelly Roper
6. Son, I Owe All My Gray Hairs to You
I had brown hair when you were born,
But that didn’t last very long.
I owe my gray hairs to you, my boy,
And I’ll remind you how I got each one.
Those gray hairs at my temples
All came from the time you went fishing
In your Daddy’ expensive saltwater tank,
And some of those fish are still missing.
Those gray hairs along my hairline
Are not highlights I got from my beautician.
They appeared when you tore through the neighbor’s garden
Like you were on a search and destroy mission.
That smattering of gray you see
Growing right out of my crown
Is a souvenir I got from that wedding
Where you hurled on the bride’s fancy gown.
They say gray hair is a mom’s badge of honor,
And that may very well be true,
But I wouldn’t trade them for all the world,
If it meant one less second with you
—Kelly Roper
7. Mother And Son
My son
I am here
I cannot protect you
From the world.
My son
I am here
I can only love you
No matter what
My son
I am here
My love unconditional
On this you can rely
My son
I am here
To guide and to teach you
And now you must fly
My son
I am here
Life can be difficult
I hear your cry
My son
I am here
Changes are painful
Never forget who you are
My son
I am here
Maintain the faith
In yourself and in God
My son
I am here
Self acceptance is yours
Do not fear
My son
I am here.
—Rose Falcone
8. I Love You Son
I love you
son
Like no one else
Only you and I
Verified love personified
Every single
Moment I’m with
You, I feel that love
Sensing you feel it too
Only a mother’s love
Nourishes your soul
—Michele Meleen
9. The Precious Smile
The smile that gives me warmth, love, affection,
The smile that contents me,
The smile that is a combination of care and friendliness,
The smile that refills the confidence to achieve,
The smile that brings a twinkle in eyes,
The smile that is adorable, satisfactory, affectionate,
Yes! It’s my MOM’s smile that is the most precious one for me!
—Paarth Wassan
10. I’d Choose You Again, Son
I may not be your mother by birth,
But you’re my true son in my heart.
I chose to create this bond with you,
And no one can tear it apart.
I couldn’t love you more even if
I had carried you in my own womb.
My heart’s bursting at the seams with love,
And there simply isn’t any more room.
I bless the woman who gave you life
And let you come to our family.
If I had to do it all over,
I’d choose you again as the son for me.
—Kelly Roper
11. From Kindergarten To Graduation
I remember the sunshine that morning
When I took your little hand in mine.
Together we walked those few blocks to school
Where you went for the very first time.
I remember the unsure look on your face
As we entered the classroom door.
You tightened your grip on my hand because
You’d never been to school before.
I smiled at you to show it was okay,
And took you to meet your new teacher.
She told you it was going to be a great day,
But I don’t think you really believed her.
I gave you a hug, we said our goodbyes,
And I walked toward the door to leave.
I looked back to see there were tears in your eyes,
And you wiped them away with your sleeve.
I worried the hours away that first day
Wondering how you were getting along.
Were you making friends, did you eat your lunch?
What if something had gone wrong?
The sad boy I left in the classroom
Wasn’t the boy who met me at the school door.
You were grinning as you happily told me
You wouldn’t be afraid of school anymore.
Now I’m here at your college graduation,
Remembering that long-ago day.
You’ve grown from a boy to an educated man,
And I’m prouder of you than I can say.
—Kelly Roper
12. Wishes for My Son
Image: Shutterstock
If wishes were like seeds
on a dandelion in the yard,
I blow mine out on a breeze
for Mother Nature to safeguard.
I’d wish for my son
to be happy and free
like the bright burning sun
or a bird in a tree.
I’d wish for my son
to feel safe and loved
like man when life had begun
and the angels up above.
—Michele Meleen
Quick tip13. I Love You Mom
My mother is so special to me, she’s more than just a friend.
Whenever I need her, she will always give me a hand.
She loves me, even from when I was a child
even ’til this day and beyond, she said I’ll always be wild
She supported me and guided me in all that I tried.
She does what she can to get me through pain, suffering and cries.
Times, the good and the bad, she helped me through it all.
She had confidence and believed in me and told me to stand tall.
She helped me through my struggles in life when my father wasn’t there, Whenever I needed her, she was always there.
—Marcus Moore
14. Prayers for My Son
My son,
who art from Heaven
I gave you a strong name.
Your kingdom will come
as your work here is done
my own little piece of heaven.
I pray you give me each day
as a gift of love
and forgive me whenever I’m wrong.
—Michele Meleen
15. To My Son
Here’s to my son, my pride,
Your presence fills my heart with a smile so wide.
With every breath, you ignite a spark,
My dear, you are like a light in the dark.
With every step you take, and every dream you chase,
Remember, I will always be there for you to embrace.
—Trisha Chakraborty
16. Mommy, I Love You
Mommy, I love you
For all that you do.
I’ll kiss you and hug you
‘Cause you love me, too.
You feed me and need me
To teach you to play,
So smile ’cause I love you
On this Mother’s Day.
—Nicholas Gordon
17. I’m Proud of You Son
I’m proud of you son
A mother’s dream come so true
How I define love
—Michele Meleen
18. My Miracle Mother
Mom, I look at you
And see a walking miracle.
Your unfailing love without limit,
Your ability to soothe my every hurt,
The way you are on duty, unselfishly,
Every hour, every day,
Makes me so grateful
That I am yours, and you are mine.
With open arms and open heart,
With enduring patience and inner strength,
You gave so much for me,
Sometimes at your expense.
—Joanna Fuchs, https://www.poemsource.com
19. For My Son on Mother’s Day
You’re the reason I’m a mother,
And it’s a job I truly love.
And every morning when I wake,
I thank the good Lord above,
For giving me such a wonderful son
Who fills my heart with joy.
This might be my day, but I want you to know
I’m so glad that you’re my boy.
—Kelly Roper
20. Mother And Son
Now sleeps the land of houses,
and dead night holds the street,
And there thou liest, my baby,
and sleepest soft and sweet;
My man is away for awhile,
but safe and alone we lie,
And none heareth thy breath but thy mother,
and the moon looking down from the sky
On the weary waste of the town,
as it looked on the grass-edged road
Still warm with yesterday’s sun,
when I left my old abode;
Hand in hand with my love,
that night of all nights in the year;
When the river of love o’erflowed
and drowned all doubt and fear,
And we two were alone in the world,
and once if never again,
We knew of the secret of earth
and the tale of its labour and pain.
Lo amidst London I lift thee,
and how little and light thou art,
And thou without hope or fear
thou fear and hope of my heart!
Lo here thy body beginning,
O son, and thy soul and thy life;
But how will it be if thou livest,
and enterest into the strife,
And in love we dwell together
when the man is grown in thee,
When thy sweet speech I shall hearken,
and yet ’twixt thee and me
Shall rise that wall of distance,
that round each one doth grow,
And maketh it hard and bitter
each other’s thought to know.
Now, therefore, while yet thou art little
and hast no thought of thine own,
I will tell thee a word of the world;
of the hope whence thou hast grown;
Of the love that once begat thee,
of the sorrow that hath made
Thy little heart of hunger,
and thy hands on my bosom laid.
Then mayst thou remember hereafter,
as whiles when people say
All this hath happened before
in the life of another day;
So mayst thou dimly remember
this tale of thy mother’s voice,
As oft in the calm of dawning
I have heard the birds rejoice,
As oft I have heard the storm-wind
go moaning through the wood;
And I knew that earth was speaking,
and the mother’s voice was good.
Now, to thee alone will I tell it
that thy mother’s body is fair,
In the guise of the country maidens
Who play with the sun and the air;
Who have stood in the row of the reapers
in the August afternoon,
Who have sat by the frozen water
in the high day of the moon,
When the lights of the Christmas feasting
were dead in the house on the hill,
And the wild geese gone to the salt-marsh
had left the winter still.
Yea, I am fair, my firstling;
if thou couldst but remember me!
The hair that thy small hand clutcheth
is a goodly sight to see;
I am true, but my face is a snare;
soft and deep are my eyes,
And they seem for men’s beguiling
fulfilled with the dreams of the wise.
Kind are my lips, and they look
as though my soul had learned
Deep things I have never heard of,
my face and my hands are burned
By the lovely sun of the acres;
three months of London town
And thy birth-bed have bleached them indeed,
“But lo, where the edge of the gown”
(So said thy father) “is parting
the wrist that is white as the curd
From the brown of the hand that I love,
bright as the wing of a bird.”
Such is thy mother, O firstling,
yet strong as the maidens of old,
Whose spears and whose swords were the warders
of homestead, of field and of fold.
Oft were my feet on the highway,
often they wearied the grass;
From dusk unto dusk of the summer
three times in a week would I pass
To the downs from the house on the river
through the waves of the blossoming corn.
Fair then I lay down in the even,
and fresh I arose on the morn,
And scarce in the noon was I weary.
Ah, son, in the days of thy strife,
If thy soul could but harbour a dream
of the blossom of my life!
It would be as the sunlit meadows
beheld from a tossing sea,
And thy soul should look on a vision
of the peace that is to be.
Yet, yet the tears on my cheek!
and what is this doth move
My heart to thy heart, beloved,
save the flood of yearning love?
For fair and fierce is thy father,
and soft and strange are his eyes
That look on the days that shall be
with the hope of the brave and the wise.
It was many a day that we laughed,
as over the meadows we walked,
And many a day I hearkened
and the pictures came as he talked;
It was many a day that we longed,
and we lingered late at eve
Ere speech from speech was sundered,
and my hand his hand could leave.
Then I wept when I was alone,
and I longed till the daylight came;
And down the stairs I stole,
and there was our housekeeping dame
(No mother of me, the foundling)
kindling the fire betimes
Ere the haymaking folk went forth
to the meadows down by the limes;
All things I saw at a glance;
the quickening fire-tongues leapt
Through the crackling heap of sticks,
and the sweet smoke up from it crept,
And close to the very hearth
the low sun flooded the floor,
And the cat and her kittens played
in the sun by the open door.
The garden was fair in the morning,
and there in the road he stood
Beyond the crimson daisies
and the bush of southernwood.
Then side by side together
through the grey-walled place we went,
And O the fear departed,
and the rest and sweet content!
Son, sorrow and wisdom he taught me,
and sore I grieved and learned
As we twain grew into one;
and the heart within me burned
With the very hopes of his heart.
Ah, son, it is piteous,
But never again in my life
shall I dare to speak to thee thus;
So may these lonely words
about thee creep and cling,
These words of the lonely night
in the days of our wayfaring.
Many a child of woman
to-night is born in the town,
The desert of folly and wrong;
and of what and whence are they grown?
Many and many an one
of wont and use is born;
For a husband is taken to bed
as a hat or a ribbon is worn.
Prudence begets her thousands;
“good is a housekeeper’s life,
So shall I sell my body
that I may be matron and wife.”
“And I shall endure foul wedlock
and bear the children of need.”
Some are there born of hate,
many the children of greed.
“I, I too can be wedded,
though thou my love hast got.”
“I am fair and hard of heart,
and riches shall be my lot.”
And all these are the good and the happy,
on whom the world dawns fair.
O son, when wilt thou learn
of those that are born of despair,
As the fabled mud of the Nile
that quickens under the sun
With a growth of creeping things,
half dead when just begun?
E’en such is the care of Nature
that man should never die,
Though she breed of the fools of the earth,
and the dregs of the city sty.
But thou, O son, O son,
of very love wert born,
When our hope fulfilled bred hope,
and fear was a folly outworn.
On the eve of the toil and the battle
all sorrow and grief we weighed,
We hoped and we were not ashamed,
we knew and we were not afraid.
Now waneth the night and the moon;
ah, son, it is piteous
That never again in my life
shall I dare to speak to thee thus.
But sure from the wise and the simple
shall the mighty come to birth;
And fair were my fate, beloved,
if I be yet on the earth
When the world is awaken at last,
and from mouth to mouth they tell
Of thy love and thy deeds and thy valour,
and thy hope that nought can quell.
— William Morris
21. A True Angel
A mother is special; she’s more than a friend.
Whenever you need her, she’ll give you a hand.
She’ll lead you and guide you in all that you do,
Try all that she can just to see you get through.
Good times and bad times, she’s there for it all.
Say head up, be proud, and always stand tall.
She’ll love you through quarrels and even big fights,
or heart-to-heart chats on cold lonely nights.
My mother’s the greatest that I’ve ever known.
I think God made my mother like He’d make his own.
A praiser, a helper, an encourager too,
nothing in this world that she wouldn’t do.
To help us succeed, she does all that she can,
raised a young boy now into a man.
I want to say thank you for all that you do.
Please always know, Mom, that I love you.
—George W. Zellars
22. My Mother
Who fed me from her gentle breast,
And hush’d me in her arms to rest,
And on my cheek sweet kisses prest?
My Mother.
When sleep forsook my open eye,
Who was it sung sweet hushaby,
And rock’d me that I should not cry?
My Mother.
Who sat and watched my infant head
When sleeping on my cradle bed,
And tears of sweet affection shed?
My Mother.
When pain and sickness made me cry,
Who gazed upon my heavy eye,
And wept for fear that I should die?
My Mother.
Who dress’d my doll in clothes so gay,
And taught me pretty how to play.
And minded all I had to say?
My Mother.
Who taught my infant lips to pray
And love God’s holy book and day,
And walk in wisdom’s pleasant way?
My Mother.
And can I ever cease to be
Affectionate and kind to thee,
Who wast so very kind to me,
My Mother?
Ah, no! the thought I cannot bear,
And if God please my life to spare
I hope I shall reward they care,
My Mother.
Who ran to help me when I fell,
And would some pretty story tell,
Or kiss the place to make it well?
My Mother.
When thou art feeble, old and grey,
My healthy arm shall be thy stay,
And I will soothe thy pains away,
My Mother.
And when I see thee hang thy head,
‘Twill be my turn to watch thy bed.
And tears of sweet affection shed,
My Mother.
For could our Father in the skies
Look down with pleased or loving eyes,
If ever I could dare despise
My Mother.
—Ann Taylor
23. Mother
Your love was like moonlight
turning harsh things to beauty,
so that little wry souls
reflecting each other obliquely
as in cracked mirrors . . .
beheld in your luminous spirit
their own reflection,
transfigured as in a shining stream,
and loved you for what they are not.
You are less an image in my mind
than a luster
I see you in gleams
pale as star-light on a gray wall . . .
evanescent as the reflection of a white swan
shimmering in broken water.
—Lola Ridge, poets.org
24. Tribute to Mother
A picture memory brings to me;
I look across the years and see
Myself beside my mother’s knee.
I feel her gentle hand restrain
My selfish moods, and know again
A child’s blind sense of wrong and pain.
But wiser now,
a man gray grown,
My childhood’s needs are better known.
My mother’s chastening love I own.
—John Greenleaf Whittier
25. Your Love Is A Gift
Mom, your love is a gift to me.
No matter what I do,
Whatever challenge I inflict,
You always see me through.
You’re strong and steady as the earth,
Bringing peace amid the storm,
Tethering me to stability,
Your love keeps me safe and warm.
—Joanna Fuchs, poemsource.com
26. To My Mother
Image: IStock
Because I feel that, in the Heavens above,
The angels, whispering to one another,
Can find, among their burning terms of love,
None so devotional as that of “Mother,”
Therefore by that dear name I long have called you—
You who are more than mother unto me,
And fill my heart of hearts, where Death installed you
In setting my Virginia’s spirit free.
My mother—my own mother, who died early,
Was but the mother of myself; but you
Are mother to the one I loved so dearly,
And thus are dearer than the mother I knew
By that infinity with which my wife
Was dearer to my soul than its soul-life.
—Edgar Allan Poe
27. Poems Done On A Late Night Car
III. Home
Here is a thing my heart wishes the world had more of:
I heard it in the air of one night when I listened
To a mother singing softly to a child restless and angry in the darkness.
—Carl Sandburg, poets.org
28. Looking For A Mother
If it is difficult to feel your mother
Hard to bear and uneasy to share
See only the animals around you
Relation between mother and cub
How they behave for care and love
That can make you believe the truth,
Just same way your mother loved
At early that little you were aged
Neither you did nor knew anyhow
She loved, cared, fed, taught you
As you are now enough to face
See the universal term and case,
Look after her as she is now aged
With love and care you are owe to her
From you were born to be enabled
Yet, not enough, for you she did suffer.
—Muzahidul Reza
29. Sonnets Are Full of Love
Sonnets are full of love, and this my tome
Has many sonnets: so here now shall be
One sonnet more, a love sonnet, from me
To her whose heart is my heart’s quiet home,
To my first Love, my Mother, on whose knee
I learnt love-lore that is not troublesome;
Whose service is my special dignity,
And she my loadstar while I go and come.
And so because you love me, and because
I love you, Mother, I have woven a wreath
Of rhymes wherewith to crown your honoured name:
In you not fourscore years can dim the flame
Of love, whose blessed glow transcends the laws
Of time and change and mortal life and death.
—Christina Rossetti
30. Rock Me to Sleep
Backward, turn backward, O Time, in your flight,
Make me a child again just for tonight!
Mother, come back from the echoless shore,
Take me again to your heart as of yore;
Kiss from my forehead the furrows of care,
Smooth the few silver threads out of my hair;
Over my slumbers your loving watch keep;—
Rock me to sleep, mother, – rock me to sleep!
Backward, flow backward, O tide of the years!
I am so weary of toil and of tears,—
Toil without recompense, tears all in vain,—
Take them, and give me my childhood again!
I have grown weary of dust and decay,—
Weary of flinging my soul-wealth away;
Weary of sowing for others to reap;—
Rock me to sleep, mother – rock me to sleep!
Tired of the hollow, the base, the untrue,
Mother, O mother, my heart calls for you!
Many a summer the grass has grown green,
Blossomed and faded, our faces between:
Yet, with strong yearning and passionate pain,
Long I tonight for your presence again.
Come from the silence so long and so deep;—
Rock me to sleep, mother, – rock me to sleep!
Over my heart, in the days that are flown,
No love like mother-love ever has shone;
No other worship abides and endures,—
Faithful, unselfish, and patient like yours:
None like a mother can charm away pain
From the sick soul and the world-weary brain.
Slumber’s soft calms o’er my heavy lids creep;—
Rock me to sleep, mother, – rock me to sleep!
Come, let your brown hair, just lighted with gold,
Fall on your shoulders again as of old;
Let it drop over my forehead tonight,
Shading my faint eyes away from the light;
For with its sunny-edged shadows once more
Haply will throng the sweet visions of yore;
Lovingly, softly, its bright billows sweep;—
Rock me to sleep, mother, – rock me to sleep!
Mother, dear mother, the years have been long
Since I last listened your lullaby song:
Sing, then, and unto my soul it shall seem
Womanhood’s years have been only a dream.
Clasped to your heart in a loving embrace,
With your light lashes just sweeping my face,
Never hereafter to wake or to weep;—
Rock me to sleep, mother, – rock me to sleep!
—Elizabeth Akers Allen
31. Without You
Mom, without you, there would be no me.
Your love, your attention, your guidance,
have made me who I am.
Without you, I would be lost,
wandering aimlessly,
without direction or purpose.
You showed me the way
to serve, to accomplish, to persevere.
Without you, there would be an empty space
I could never fill, no matter how I tried.
Instead, because of you,
I have joy, contentment, satisfaction and peace.
Thank you, mom.
I have always loved you
and I always will.
—Joanna Fuchs, poemsource.com
32. Mother O’ Mine
If I were hanged on the highest hill,
Mother o’ mine, O mother o’ mine!
I know whose love would follow me still,
Mother o’ mine, O mother o’ mine!
If I were drowned in the deepest sea,
Mother o’ mine, O mother o’ mine!
I know whose tears would come down to me,
Mother o’ mine, O mother o’ mine!
If I were damned of body and soul,
I know whose prayers would make me whole,
Mother o’ mine, O mother o’ mine!
—Rudyard Kipling
33. A True Mother’s Love
A mother’s love is consistent
and patient, it will never fade.
A mother’s love is warm and
compassionate, even in the shade.
A mother’s love will
always help you through the
weakest hours. A mother’s love
is always like a bouquet of
flowers. A mother’s love is
strong and will never steer
you wrong. A true mother’s
love is beautiful in many ways.
A true mother’s love is sincere
and it takes a mother’s love to
conquer our fears. A true mother’s
love knows the depth of love. A
true mother’s love is contentment,
just like God’s love. My mother’s
love is absolutely all of the above.
—Patarica D. Nunn
34. Mother, Summer, I
My mother, who hates thunder storms,
Holds up each summer day and shakes
It out suspiciously, lest swarms
Of grape-dark clouds are lurking there;
But when the August weather breaks
And rains begin, and brittle frost
Sharpens the bird-abandoned air,
Her worried summer look is lost,
And I her son, though summer-born
And summer-loving, none the less
Am easier when the leaves are gone
Too often summer days appear
Emblems of perfect happiness
I can’t confront: I must await
A time less bold, less rich, less clear:
An autumn more appropriate.
—Philip Larkin
35. My Mother’s Lesson In Empathy
At the time, I was a five-year old boy
A visit to my aunty, always a joy
My cousin was playing with cars at the back
He just had a new one, the body in black
Orange lines on the side, oh boy, what a toy
Only a few minutes later, it is hard to believe
My cousin was called and he had to leave
This left us alone, that beautiful car, and me
The temptation was great, as great as could be,
I could not resist and became a thieve
Into my pocket, very smoothly it went,
I was delighted, extremely content
When we reached home, I told to my mom
With much pride about what I had done
And that’s where contentment would end
My mother, incredibly sweet, incredibly bright
Swallowed her anger but asked in a voice, slightly tight
Please consider for a minute or two
How you would feel if someone did this to you.
Deep in my mind, I considered this plight.
It was easy to see the horrible feeling
I’d caused in my cousin by carelessly stealing
Our next visit, I was allowed to put it silently back
That car, with orange stripes on a body of black
Since then, I ‘ve quit forever the stealing
I don’t think that there ever could be
A more brilliant lesson in empathy.
—Aufie Zophy
36. Morning Song
Love set you going like a fat gold watch.
The midwife slapped your footsoles, and your bald cry
Took its place among the elements.
Our voices echo, magnifying your arrival. New statue.
In a drafty museum, your nakedness
Shadows our safety. We stand round blankly as walls.
I’m no more your mother
Than the cloud that distills a mirror to reflect its own slow
Effacement at the wind’s hand.
All night your moth-breath
Flickers among the flat pink roses. I wake to listen:
A far sea moves in my ear.
One cry, and I stumble from bed, cow-heavy and floral
In my Victorian nightgown.
Your mouth opens clean as a cat’s. The window square
Whitens and swallows its dull stars. And now you try
Your handful of notes;
The clear vowels rise like balloons.
—Sylvia Plath
37. Another Poem For Mothers
Mother, I’m trying
to write a poem
to you—
which is how most
poems to mothers must
begin—or, What I’ve wanted
to say, Mother…but we
as children of mothers,
even when mothers ourselves,
cannot bear our poems
to them. Poems to
mothers make us feel
little again. How to describe
that world that mothers spin
and consume and trap
and love us in, that spreads
for years and men and miles?
Those particular hands that could
smooth anything: butter on bread,
cool sheets or weather. It’s
the wonder of them, good or bad,
those mother-hands that pet
and shape and slap,
that sew you together
the pieces of a better house
or life in which you’ll try
to live. Mother,
I’ve done no better
than the others, but for now,
here is your clever failure.
—Erin Belieu, poets.org
38. Mother And Son
I’d known her all my life,
nursed her for seven years
night and day
yet when last night I lay down to sleep
I heard myself say
as if to someone else,
what a splendid lady,
I wish I’d known her better
—Michael Shepherd
39. Dear Mama (4)
when did we become friends?
it happened so gradual i didn’t notice
maybe i had to get my run out first
take a big bite of the honky world and choke on it
maybe that’s what has to happen with some uppity youngsters
if it happens at all
and now
the thought stark and irrevocable
of being here without you
shakes me
beyond love, fear, regret or anger
into that realm children go
who want to care for/protect their parents
as if they could
and sometimes the lucky ones do
into the realm of making every moment
important
laughing as though laughter wards off death
each word given
received like spanish eight
treasure to bury within
against that shadow day
when it will be the only coin i possess
with which to buy peace of mind
—Wanda Coleman, poets.org
40. Mother To Son
Mother said
Sit down and read my son
Son used to think
will the wind come today?
Can the kite to fly in the sky?
Mother said
Take your bath, my son
Eat food, come hurry
Son used to think
why does it happen at noon
why do not the friends come soon
Can I play today in the field?
—Musfiq us shaleheen
41. A Blessing
The Mother’s heart, the hero’s will,
The softest flowers’ sweetest feel;
The charm and force that ever sway
The altar-fire’s flaming play;
The strength that leads, in love obeys;
Far-reaching dreams, and patient ways,
Eternal faith in Self, in all,
The light Divine in great, in small;
All these and more than I could see,
Today may ‘Mother’ grant to thee!
—Swami Vivekananda
42. Some Advice from A Mother to Her Married Son
Image: IStock
The answer to do you love me isn’t, I married you, didn’t I?
Or, Can’t we discuss this after the ballgame is through?
It isn’t, Well that all depends on what you mean by ‘love’.
Or even, Come to bed and I’ll prove that I do.
The answer isn’t, How can I talk about love when
the bacon is burned and the house is an absolute mess and
the children are screaming their heads off and
I’m going to miss my bus?
The answer is yes.
The answer is yes.
The answer is yes
—Judith Viorst
43. To My Mother
O thou whose care sustained my infant years,
And taught my prattling lip each note of love;
Whose soothing voice breathed comfort to my fears,
And round my brow hope’s brightest garland wove;
To thee my lay is due, the simple song,
Which Nature gave me at life’s opening day;
To thee these rude, these untaught strains belong,
Whose heart indulgent will not spurn my lay.
—Lucretia Maria Davidson, poets.org
44. For My Mother
Once more
I summon you
Out of the past
With poignant love,
You who nourished the poet
And the lover.
I see your gray eyes
Looking out to sea
In those Rockport summers,
Keeping a distance
Within the closeness
Which was never intrusive
Opening out
Into the world.
And what I remember
Is how we laughed
Till we cried
Swept into merriment
Especially when times were hard.
And what I remember
Is how you never stopped creating
And how people sent me
Dresses you had designed
With rich embroidery
In brilliant colors
Because they could not bear
To give them away
Or cast them aside.
I summon you now
Not to think of
The ceaseless battle
With pain and ill health,
The frailty and the anguish.
No, today I remember
The creator,
The lion-hearted.
—May Sarton, poets.org
45. What Mother Means
Mother is such a simple word.
But to me there’s meaning seldom heard.
For everything I am today
My mother’s love showed me the way.
—Karl Fuchs
46. Rock Me to Sleep
Backward, turn backward, O Time, in your flight,
Make me a child again just for tonight!
Mother, come back from the echoless shore,
Take me again to your heart as of yore;
Kiss from my forehead the furrows of care,
Smooth the few silver threads out of my hair;
Over my slumbers your loving watch keep;—
Rock me to sleep, mother, – rock me to sleep!
Backward, flow backward, O tide of the years!
I am so weary of toil and of tears,—
Toil without recompense, tears all in vain,—
Take them, and give me my childhood again!
I have grown weary of dust and decay,—
Weary of flinging my soul-wealth away;
Weary of sowing for others to reap;—
Rock me to sleep, mother – rock me to sleep!
Tired of the hollow, the base, the untrue,
Mother, O mother, my heart calls for you!
Many a summer the grass has grown green,
Blossomed and faded, our faces between:
Yet, with strong yearning and passionate pain,
Long I tonight for your presence again.
Come from the silence so long and so deep;—
Rock me to sleep, mother, – rock me to sleep!
Over my heart, in the days that are flown,
No love like mother-love ever has shone;
No other worship abides and endures,—
Faithful, unselfish, and patient like yours:
None like a mother can charm away pain
From the sick soul and the world-weary brain.
Slumber’s soft calms o’er my heavy lids creep;—
Rock me to sleep, mother, – rock me to sleep!
Come, let your brown hair, just lighted with gold,
Fall on your shoulders again as of old;
Let it drop over my forehead tonight,
Shading my faint eyes away from the light;
For with its sunny-edged shadows once more
Haply will throng the sweet visions of yore;
Lovingly, softly, its bright billows sweep;—
Rock me to sleep, mother, – rock me to sleep!
Mother, dear mother, the years have been long
Since I last listened your lullaby song:
Sing, then, and unto my soul it shall seem
Womanhood’s years have been only a dream.
Clasped to your heart in a loving embrace,
With your light lashes just sweeping my face,
Never hereafter to wake or to weep;—
Rock me to sleep, mother, – rock me to sleep!
—Elizabeth Akers Allen
47. To My Mother
You too, my mother, read my rhymes
For love of unforgotten times,
And you may chance to hear once more
The little feet along the floor.
—Robert Louis Stevenson, poets.org
48. Bloodline ***** Mother From Son
this is the first poem i’ve written to my mama
she is my mother
from earth up to next
she is the one, no other
to whom my difficulties i share
love is the place in mama’s heart
full of compassionate care
warm kisses play on tender lips
with love from motherly embrace
in midst of misfortune and pain
inspiring words she uses to explain
my pensive life is awaken
to reach my golden dream
—Rommel Mark Dominguez Marchan
49. I Learned From You
I learned about love from you,
Watching your caring ways.
I learned about joy from you
In fun-filled yesterdays.
From you I learned forgiving
Of faults both big and small.
I learned what I know about living
From you, as you gave life your all.
The example you set is still with me
I’d never want any other.
I’m thankful for all that you taught me,
And I’m blessed to call you “Mother.”
—Joanna Fuchs, poemsource.com
50. Super Mom
Mom, you’re a wonderful mother,
So gentle, yet so strong.
The many ways you show you care
Always make me feel I belong.
You’re patient when I’m foolish;
You give guidance when I ask;
It seems you can do most anything;
You’re the master of every task.
You’re a dependable source of comfort;
You’re my cushion when I fall.
You help in times of trouble;
You support me whenever I call.
I love you more than you know;
You have my total respect.
If I had my choice of mothers,
You’d be the one I’d select!
—Joanna Fuchs
51. Guiding Light Mom
Mom, from the time I was really young,
I realized I had someone…you,
who always cared,
who always protected me,
who was always there for me no matter what.
You taught me right from wrong,
and pushed me to do the right thing,
even when it was hard to do.
You took care of me when I was sick,
and your love helped make me well.
You had rules,
and I learned that when I obeyed them,
my life was simpler, better, richer.
You were and are
the guiding light of my life.
My heart is filled with love for you,
my teacher, my friend, my mother.
—Karl and Joanna Fuchs
52. Never Unsaid
I never want this to go unsaid,
So here in this poem is for it to be said.
There are no words to express how much you mean to me,
A son like you, I thought could never be.
Because the day you were born, I just knew,
God sent me a blessing – and that was you.
For this I thank Him every day.
You are the true definition of a son, in every way.
It is because of you that my life has meaning.
Becoming a mom has shown me a new sense of being.
I want you to know that you were the purpose of my life,
Out of everything I did, it was you that I did right.
Always remember that I know how much you care,
I can tell by the relationship that we share.
For a son like you there could be no other,
And whether we are together or apart,
Please do not ever forget,
You will always have a piece of my heart.
—Valerie Capasso
53. Mystery Mom
Image: Shutterstock
Mom, your love is a mystery:
How can you do it all?
You’re always there with the perfect fix
For my problems, big and small.
Your love protects me day after day,
So I’m fearless, safe and sound.
I feel that I can do anything
Whenever you’re around.
Mom, your love is a mystery,
I haven’t got a clue
Why you love me all time,
But I’m very glad you do!
—Joanna Fuchs
54. I Hope You Know How Much I Love You
To My Son,
I hope you know how much I love you so.
I might embarrass you from time to time
By giving lots of love and needless kisses,
But you need to know Mom loves you so.
Before you were born I didn’t know
Just how much I would love you so,
But when I looked into your eyes for the first time,
I felt my heart grow and grow.
A Mother’s love is hard to explain,
Not everyone will feel the same.
Now that you are getting older I felt the need to tell you
Just how much I love you so.
Time may pass day after day or year after year,
But the love I have for you grows
nearer and dearer to my heart each day and year.
To my son, I hope you know just how much I love you so.
—Rita Luna
55. Ah Mother And Son
Ah mother and son
going through the forest of life,
in their times going on
in life’s work and strife.
Not much time for each dreaming
for time flowers are falling,
and sunsets glow beaming
as the winter is calling.
Ah mother my day
I long just to be with you,
for you are my way
to follow and get through.
Ah son I love you
you are me all inside,
when the times are blue
and winter nights abide
Ah together we go
through the forest of rain,
falling leaves they glow
with their sorrow and pain.
But we are still here
within all our dreams,
our souls are everywhere
like water that streams.
—Peter S. Quinn
56. To My Son
Oh, how the years go by.
Oh, how time can certainly fly.
From once just a thought in faraway dreams,
now into my arms and in my eyes gleam
the presence of you.
Your laughter and smiles,
which go on for miles,
warm my heart and soul.
You’re growing up so fast,
as I wish each moment with you to forever last.
My little boy will someday be a man,
and right by your side I will forever stand.
I will pick up the pieces when you fall.
I will hold your hand and help you stand tall.
And when the day comes when you are on your own,
never feel that you are alone.
No matter how near or far apart,
I am always right there in your heart.
Always remember whatever you go through
that no matter what, I will always love you.
—Amy R. Campbell
57. My Son
As you slept I took your hand
And thought of all the times
I held you as a baby
And read you nursery rhymes.
Expressions of a lifetime
Unfolded as I prayed.
Your little face, how it has changed
But how your smile has stayed.
I love you, son
Just as the time I cradled you so tight
That very day I told you then
I whisper now, tonight
My little boy
How time has flown
And now, almost a man I’ll kiss your little fingers…
And hold you while I can.
—Muriel V. Stephens
58. For You, My Mother
To have known you all my life,
Is still too short a time.
True, we’ve had our trials and troubles,
But we laugh now, more than ever,
And you’re one of the best friends,
I ever had.
I think of you all the time,
And when people ask,
I just smile.
To describe you,
In words or speech,
Does no justice,
For a copy has only a fraction of the value,
Of an original.
And if there is such a thing,
As a plan in this life,
It is no wonder then,
That we are mother and son.
For nothing I ever asked for or needed
Was denied,
And I just wanted to say,
I love you.
—Paul Maplesden, medium.com
59. Put Up With Me
I’m glad that you’re my mother,
Kind and caring and strong.
Coz surely no-one else,
Could have put up with me this long!
—Holly Giffers
60. Full Of Love For Mom
From the time I was really young,
I knew you were there for me.
You showed me right from wrong
and taught me to do right,
even when it was hard.
When I was sick, you took care of me,
letting me know I would be okay.
You are my guiding light,
Mom, my rock, my strong foundation.
I respect and admire you.
My heart is full of love for you.
I’m so glad you’re my mother!
—Joanna Fuchs, poemsource.com
61. A Mother’s Prayer For You
I said a Mother’s Day prayer for you
to thank the Lord above
for blessing me with a lifetime
of your tender hearted love.
I thanked God for the caring
you’ve shown me through the years,
for the closeness we’ve enjoyed
in time of laughter and of tears.
And so, I thank you from the heart
for all you’ve done for me
and I bless the Lord for giving me
the best mother there could be!
—Anonymous
62. Where Have The Days Gone?
Where have the years gone my special boy,
Those halcyon days when you were small,
Those running days and digging days,
The exploring and the wonder days,
The giggle days, the playing days,
Those cuddle and the loving days,
One blink, and they are gone days,
But my heart still take me back some days –
To when you were very small.
—Janyce Cotterill
63. Wonderful Mother
God made a wonderful mother,
A mother who never grows old;
He made her smile of the sunshine,
And He molded her heart of pure gold;
In her eyes He placed bright shining stars,
In her cheeks fair roses you see;
God made a wonderful mother,
And He gave that dear mother to me.
—Pat O’Reilly
64. Especially For You Mom
I’m writing this poem for you,
Mom, because I want this poem to be
my own special way of showing you
how much you mean to me.
I have so much to say,
and I don’t think this poem will do,
but each word in between these lines
comes straight from my heart for you.
I know I haven’t been a perfect son,
but you’ve taken things in stride,
and no matter how many problems I’ve had,
you’ve always been by my side.
I could talk to you about whatever I felt,
because I knew that you’d understand,
all that you asked from me in return
was to stand up and be a man.
If I asked you for some advice
you never have told me no,
and if I made a dumb mistake,
you’ve never said I told you so!
You’ve always treated me real special
and sometimes I don’t understand why.
But when I think about how I’ve hurt you,
it makes me want to cry.
This is an apology for the mistakes I’ve made
and the conflicts that we’ve had,
for all the times I’ve hurt you
and for all the times I’ve made you mad.
I wrote this especially for you mom,
this is my cry out to you.
To let you know how sorry I am
and how much I really love you.
—Travis J. Harris
Note: The poems in this collection are not original works of MomJunction but have been sourced from various authors. No claim of ownership is being made by us. Credit has been given wherever the details were available. If you are the original author of any poem and wish to have it credited or removed, please contact us. We value the creative rights of authors and will address your request promptly.
Illustration: Beautiful Poems About Mother And Son Relationship
Image: Stable Diffusion/MomJunction Design Team
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do mother–son poems reflect the mother-son relationship?
When a mother writes a poem for her son or when a son pens heart-felt poetry for his mother, they both express their innermost feelings for one another. They share emotions they wouldn’t be able to communicate otherwise. The poem is a reflection of their unbreakable bond and unconditional love between them.
2. What are some tips for writing a successful mother–son poem, and how can personal experiences enhance them?
A successful mother-son poem touches the receiver’s heart. And what can be more touching than a poem straight from the heart. Pour your sincere feelings, and the receiver will surely be moved. You can keep the poem simple and heartfelt using words and phrases that resonate your relationship with each other.
Personal experiences that showcase your relationship can help add a unique element to the poem. Think about memorable moments you’ve had, such as a special birthday or family trip, and describe what made those days stand out. Including inside jokes or funny memories can give it a personal touch. You might also reflect on lessons you’ve learned together, especially those times when you supported each other.
3. How do mother–son poems bridge the generational gap between mothers and sons?
The generational gap causes a lack of understanding and communication between mothers and sons. Poems emphasizing the mother-son relationship shed light on the bond of love that both people share and the feelings that they have for each other that are often not expressed and go unacknowledged because of inadequate communication. Thus, it brings mothers and sons closer together.
4. How do different poetic techniques show the emotions and experiences of a mother–son relationship?
Poetic devices like anaphora, alliteration, rhymes, and metaphors are used in poems about mother-son relationships. These poetic devices create a picture for readers and help them resonate with the emotions of the poet about the relationship between mother and son and the strength of their bond.
5. What themes are commonly explored in poems on mother and son
Mother-son poems commonly express themes of hope, encouragement, and the will to move ahead in life despite hardships. The poems also explore the mother’s love for her son and her desire for her son to achieve the best things in his life while also highlighting the son’s adoration and respect for his mother.
When a child is born, the mother develops the innate need to nurture and protect the child. She can connect with her child on a deeper level, unlike anybody else. Hence, the relationship between a mother and her son is very pure. And at times, one might not be able to string together the right words to express the depth and love that lives in this bond. With the help of these mother-son poems, one can express these feelings with ease. You can keep these poems handy and use them on mother’s day, on the respective birthdays, or on any day to make your mother feel special. You can also pair them with mother and son quotes to let each other know how much you appreciate them and how much they mean to you.
Infographic: Craft A Love-Filled Poem For Your Son In Your Words
It is hard to express how much a mother loves her son; after all, he is the most special blessing in her life. Nevertheless, it is a good idea to pamper your son occasionally with a sweet and heartfelt poem written in your own words. Check out this infographic for some helpful tips on how to write a poem for your son, adding delight to his day. Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
When a mother shares her life struggles with her son, he feels inspired to be a strong man and not give up easily in life. This poem, ‘Mother to Son,’ is a powerful message of hope and resilience.
Personal Experience: Source
MomJunction articles include first-hand experiences to provide you with better insights through real-life narratives. Here are the sources of personal accounts referenced in this article.
i. Poems we write together;https://psiloveyou.xyz/poems-we-write-together-c359ffc31cce
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