The Lanyard
The other day I was ricocheting slowly
off the blue walls of this room,
moving as if underwater from typewriter to piano,
from bookshelf to an envelope lying on the floor,
when I found myself in the L section of the dictionary
where my eyes fell upon the word lanyard.
No cookie nibbled by a French novelist
could send one into the past more suddenly-
a past where I sat at a workbench at a camp
by a deep Adirondack lake
learning how to braid long thin plastic strips
into a lanyard, a gift for my mother.
I had never seen anyone use a lanyard
or wear one, if that’s what you did with them,
but that did not keep me from crossing
strand over strand again and again
until I had made a boxy
red and white lanyard for my mother.
She gave me life and milk from her breasts,
and I gave her a lanyard.
She nursed me in many a sick room,
lifted spoons of medicine to my lips,
laid cold face-clothes on my forehead,
and then led me out into the air light
and taught me to walk and swim,
and I, in turn, presented her with a lanyard.
Here are thousands of meals, she said,
and here is clothing and a good education.
And here is your lanyard, I replied,
which I made with a little help from a counselor.
Here is a breathing body and a beating heart,
strong legs, bones and teeth,
and two clear eyes to read the world, she whispered,
and here, I said, is the lanyard I made at camp.
And here, I wish to say to her now,
is a smaller gift – not the worn truth
that you can never repay your mother,
but the rueful admission that when she took
the two-toned lanyard from my hand,
I was as sure as a boy could be
that this useless, worthless thing I wove
out of boredom would be enough to make us even.
– BIlly Collins
It’s never even and that’s okay. Happy Mother’s Day !
Whether you yourself is a mother or not, regardless – it’s a celebration for all as we all HAVE or HAD a mother even if you yourself may not be one. It’s about gratitude for this life we were given; for the nurturing we were given biological or not. One who nurtures … the nurturers are all super moms. Thank you mom, mama, mother …
& for the moms …
More than material things, more than a lanyard, probably what most moms would benefit from a couple of hours devoted to self-care, a space in which to unplug and be pampered …so that she can go back to learning and growing with the family. To me, that would be a very gentle but flowy, juicy “effective” yoga class or a nature hike followed by a “real” restorative yoga – any blend of yoga that restores our balance and sense of vitality. In other words, “Relax & Renew” …regenerated, moms (or dads) can go back to that place of strength and endurance, which enables them to be more patient, more caring and loving … This applies to all – We want Giving to be joyful not draining or done grudgingly as though it’s such a sacrifice. Some are just a natural at the task of child rearing, and thrives – For some, not – feeling an enormous test of patience where personal carefree freedom is virtually … gone or have gone too may extra miles to meet the needs of others before their own. But, is it really a sacrifice to have the opportunity to learn and grow with a child? From the bottom of the heart, giving without reservations … that unconditional love. To be fully engaged and …PRESENT. Takes a lot of … energy where routine recharging can only benefit.
Reminded of the Q & A session after his talk Friday night on graceful aging (happening everyday from the day you were born) and how yoga helps – Baxter Bell MD & Yoga Teacher was asked this – what kind of yoga would help boost the immune system? The yogi doctor answered, yoga helps strengthen the muscles, improve balance, and agility. Then he went on to say that for strengthening the immune system, he would prescribe a regular restorative yoga practice – why, of course. It behooves us to try different styles of yoga … mix and match. Find what suits you for the condition you are in.
