Mother, A Cradle To Hold Me by Maya Angelou

Mother, A Cradle To Hold Me, a sentimental poem written by Maya Angelou is a blissful read. Amongst her many accomplishments as a singer, actress, composer, and dancer, this a poem that added another feather on her cap. She shot to higher fame when she became Hollywood’s first female black director. Although, her written work was always and is still considered the next level!

Maya Angelou

Mother, A Cradle To Hold Me

It is true
I was created in you.
It is also true
That you were created for me.
I owned your voice.
It was shaped and tuned to soothe me.
Your arms were molded
Into a cradle to hold me, to rock me.
The scent of your body was the air
Perfumed for me to breathe.

Mother,
During those early, dearest days
I did not dream that you had
A large life which included me,
For I had a life
Which was only you.

Time passed steadily and drew us apart.
I was unwilling.
I feared if I let you go
You would leave me eternally.
You smiled at my fears, saying
I could not stay in your lap forever.

That one day you would have to stand
And where would I be?
You smiled again.
I did not.
Without warning you left me,
But you returned immediately.
You left again and returned,
I admit, quickly,
But relief did not rest with me easily.
You left again, but again returned.
You left again, but again returned.
Each time you reentered my world
You brought assurance.
Slowly I gained confidence.

You thought you know me,
But I did know you,
You thought you were watching me,
But I did hold you securely in my sight,
Recording every moment,
Memorizing your smiles, tracing your frowns.
In your absence
I rehearsed you,
The way you had of singing
On a breeze,
While a sob lay
At the root of your song.

The way you posed your head
So that the light could caress your face
When you put your fingers on my hand
And your hand on my arm,
I was blessed with a sense of health,
Of strength and very good fortune.

You were always
the heart of happiness to me,
Bringing nougats of glee,
Sweets of open laughter.

During the years when you knew nothing
And I knew everything, I loved you still.
Condescendingly of course,
From my high perch
Of teenage wisdom.
I grew older and
Was stunned to find
How much knowledge you had gleaned.
And so quickly.

Mother, I have learned enough now
To know I have learned nearly nothing.
On this day
When mothers are being honored,
Let me thank you
That my selfishness, ignorance, and mockery
Did not bring you to
Discard me like a broken doll
Which had lost its favor.
I thank you that
You still find something in me
To cherish, to admire and to love.

I thank you, Mother.
I love you.

Read more: I carry your heart with me(i carry it in) – E.E. Cummings

A cradle to hold me by Maya Angelou is a poem that takes one to a journey of their childhood. Of the moments they cherished with their mother. Truly, there is nothing in this materialistic world that can beat a mother’s love. The poem takes us through the many emotions a child experiences while growing up. Playing mother when she is away, feeling insecure of her not returning, always knowing the answer to every question, and to be unconditionally available are some of the things every child looks back at.

We had to include this poem on our list of famous English poems because it churned in our souls so many forgotten emotions. By the end of it, we had goosebumps. Maya Angelou wrote this poem as a dedication to her mother. Maybe, we can all send this article to our mothers and let her know how much we miss growing up in her arms. Make sure you tell her, that no matter how old we grow, we are always going to need her. After all, she has the answers to everything, right?