Before You Go
Some Things You Should Know
Before you go
And journey on to what comes after
There are some things you should know
Like how I will always remember the good times and laughter
*****
You loved us, just as we are
Bad decisions, mistakes and flaws
You made us realize that we could go far
No matter how many times we start or pause
*****
Your dedication to our family
Taught us “Family First”
All we have is family
For better and for worse
*****
Christmas was always merry and bright
Your hard work made it so
Cookies, baked goods, and decorations just right
At Christmas time you always had a glow
*****
I remember our late night Super Mario Brother’s games
Playing all night ‘til dawn
Nintendo was to blame
For the following day’s yawns
*****
I remember some of the bad times too
When Dad would be in a rage
Those sins were not yours, you were just trying to get through
You also shoulder no blame
*****
The love you have for your grandchildren
Each and everyone
With hugs and love for all of them
And making Gramma’s house fun
*****
I wanted to tell you thank you
For all of this and more
Take these memories with you
And let your spirit soar
This poem is was written for my mother, who has incurable brain cancer.
Thank you for reading my work! If you would like to read more, you can click my profile below. I appreciate every read!
About the Creator
J. Delaney-Howe
Bipolar poet. Father. Grandfather. Husband. Gay man. I write poetry, prose, some fiction and a good bit about family. Thank you for stopping by.
Queer Vocal Voices on Facebook.
Find me on Facebook.
Reader insights
Outstanding
Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!
Top insights
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
Excellent storytelling
Original narrative & well developed characters
Expert insights and opinions
Arguments were carefully researched and presented
Eye opening
Niche topic & fresh perspectives
Masterful proofreading
Zero grammar & spelling mistakes
Compelling and original writing
Creative use of language & vocab
On-point and relevant
Writing reflected the title & theme
Easy to read and follow
Well-structured & engaging content
Comments (18)
Not only did she soar, she contributed to a family soaring. And now she watches as you soar. She sounds like she was wonderful.
Loved this😊💕🌹
Stopped by to read this again and honor your mom.
Oh, how beautiful but heartbreaking. I'm so very sorry
Beautiful, sending much love to you and your family at this time ❤️
Beautiful tribute! 🥰
Lovely. Sorry to hear about your mother. 😢
Sending hugs and support for this Jim
Heartfelt and touching ! Really moved me. I just subscribed to you!
Beautiful, heartfelt piece. My thoughts are with you.
Beautiful. I am so sorry your family is going through this. 💗
Absolutely beautiful...
Heartfelt 😔
Heartfelt, tender, touching!!! Love it💕😊💖
This is a very touching poem, Jim. Thank you for sharing.
I am positive that your mom knows the words and love in your heart, and I'm so glad that you put some of them into print.
This is so beautiful and evokes so many emotions. Moms are true angels and your love and respect for her shows here. Great job speaking from your heart. I’m sure your mom loves it. ❤️
This is too beautiful for words - a lovely tribute. 💕