Carla L. Buck

Our mother kept a garden. A garden of the heart;

She planted all the good things,

That gave our life its start.

She turned us to the sunshine,

And encouraged us to dream: 

Fostering and nurturing 

The seeds of self-esteem.

And when the winds and rain came, 

She protected us enough;

But not too much, because 

She knew we’d need to stand up strong and tough.

Her constant life example,

Always taught us right from wrong; 

Markers for our pathway

That will last a life time long.

We are my mother's garden,

We are her legacy. 

And I hope today 

she feels the love, 

Reflected back from thee.

-author unknown