Edward L. Holmes II is a local author who has published two books of poetry, including “Fingerprints of Love and War”.
Mr. Holmes can be reached at edwardlholmes@yahoo.com
Mama tried to cook each night
and never missed a meal.
We ate from plates she washed that day
until our guts were filled.
Mama tried to pay each bill
so we could have a place
where lights were running all year round,
where we could wash our face.
Mama tried to discipline
and never spare the rod
so we could grow to break the mold,
statistics, we were not.
Mama tried to educate
our young minds to be strong
enough to have discernment and
to know our right from wrong.
Mama tried protecting us
from choices that would steal
our innocence and confidence
that love was truly real.
The most important thing I learned
now seeing through her eyes:
I’d grow to be a better man
because I learned to try.
– Mama tried
