Motherhood and the regard for mothers is such a universal theme that it is only natural that many poets have written about mothers. Some write from the perspective of the mother, others as children writing about their mothers.

One author, better known for her fiction, crystallized the special bond the new mother feels for her young child – a bond that encompasses both love and possessiveness – in a poem titled simply, “The Mother.”

Lucy Maud Montgomery (1874-1942), known throughout the world as the L.M. Montgomery of Anne of Green Gables fame, also wrote poetry, including this poem, “The Mother,” excerpted here:

While tender and adoring, Montgomery’s mother also expresses a resignation for the time when her precious son will “share” his attentions with a “grasping world.” Montgomery’s honesty captures both the better and baser feelings of mothers for their children.

Author and clergyman Henry Van Dyke (1852 – 1933) wrote one of the most memorable poems about the love of a child for his mother when he wrote “A Prayer for a Mother’s Birthday” to commemorate the birth of his mother:

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Van Dyke’s reverent love for his mother takes shape as a prayer asking the divine to “Ah, hold her by the hand/As once her hand held mine,” comparing divine love to the love a mother has for her child.

Come Mother’s Day, considering giving a mother – your mother, grandmother, godmother, someone like a mother to you – a poem that shows your affection. Can’t write one of your own? Then find a classic poem that has proven timeless!