by Dorothea Barth. Written to remember and honor my dear mother, who left this world on August 16, 2011
Excited children 'round her lap
Delighted motley crew
Savoring her bounty
Of biscuit, cake, or stew
Our Ma knew how to keep the faith
Through famine and through sorrow
With hope she welcomed every day
Believed in her tomorrow
Our coats and mittens crafted
By never-resting hands
A bit of lace, a fringe of wool
Warm style in war-worn lands
Our Ma knew how to keep the faith
Through poverty and sorrow
With cheer she welcomed every day
Believed in her tomorrow
She knew to keep us in suspense
About the cinema
In foreign tongue she'd make our plans
As we beseeched, "But Ma!"
Our Ma knew how to keep the faith
Through happiness and sorrow
With glee she welcomed every day
Believed in her tomorrow
What commotion in the house
When one eventful year
Ma learned to drive a winged car
Resumed her lost career
Our Ma knew how to keep the faith
Through industry and sorrow
With strength she welcomed every day
Believed in her tomorrow
With relish she embraced her work
Attended Daily Mass
And in her rusty Cadillac
Returned us home from class
Our Ma knew how to keep the faith
Through changes and through sorrow
With zest she welcomed every day
Believed in her tomorrow
As Ma's memory grew dim
She still surprised us all
Her favorite flower's name she knew
In Latin to recall
Our Ma knew how to keep the faith
Through illness and through sorrow
With thanks she welcomed every day
Believed in her tomorrow
And as we say goodbye to Ma
The echoes of her laughter
Recall her greatest lesson taught
Her sunshine here and after
It's our turn now to keep the faith
Through absence and through sorrow
With cheer to welcome every day
Believe in our tomorrow
