“My mother: She is beautiful, softened at the edges and tempered with a spine of steel. I want to grow old and be like her.” Judi Picoult
Dedicated to moms everywhere and in every time
I live in the United States where we traditionally celebrate Mothers’ Day in May, but the acknowledgment of mothers, mothering, and maternal bonds is not unique to this time and place. Simply put, Mothers’ Day in the U.S. reminds me to do something special and always this recognition includes all those fathers and grandfathers, aunts and uncles, older siblings and family friends … sometimes even teachers or neighbors … who fulfill the role of mother for those children who have lost theirs.
Truth to tell, this is an accidental edition of The BeZine, totally spontaneous. I asked our core team if anyone had mom material at the ready. I was thinking in terms of one or two blog posts. Some did and, as though my mind was read, a couple of writers coincidentally contacted me asking if I would publish a poem they’d written for their mother or for Mothers’ Day. Why not? I put out a call to a few other gracious people and voilà! … an unexpected delight.
These are largely poems of love and gratitude (grab a hankie) including a sweet and well-written poem from Kennedy Stewart, our youngest contributor yet. Please enjoy this charming and thoughtful compilation and forgive me for making a quick and casual job of it.
Thanks to all our devoted, generous, and prescient contributors.
Illustration courtesy of Mohamed Mohamed Mahmoud Hassan, Public Domain Pictures.net
On behalf of The Bardo Group Beguines,
and in the spirit of love (respect) and community,
Jamie Dedes
Founding and Managing Editor
TABLE OF CONTENTS
How to read this issue of THE BeZINE:You can read each piece individually by clicking the links in the Table of Contents or you can click HERE and scroll through the entire zine.
The Ballad of Stabat Mater, John Anstie
His Mother Bellows, Paul Brookes
Magnum Opus, Naomi Baltuck
Disjunction (in English and Albanian), Frank Buzhala
Your Magic, Loving, Linda Chown
Out of the Womb of Time, Jamie Dedes
A Separate Peace, Jamie Dedes
Tribute, Sharon Frye
Those Before Me, Sharon Frye
Letter to My Mother: The Only Inhabitant of Heaven, Iulia Gherghei
Conflict, Silva Zanoyan Merjanian
“Broken Homes” … Single Moms, Remarkable Son, Gil Scott-Heron
The Apple and the Tree, Kennedy Stewart
Mothers’ Day, Different Thoughts, Anjum Wasim Dar
The BeZine: Be Inspired, Be Creative, Be Peace, Be (the subscription feature is below and to your left.)
Daily Spiritual Practice: Beguine Again, a community of Like-Minded People
Facebook, The Bardo Group Beguines
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SUBMISSIONS:
Read Info/Missions Statement, Submission Guidelines, and at least one issue before you submit. Updates on Calls for Submissions and other activities are posted on the Zine blog and The Poet by Day.
