MOTHER’S JOY, MOTHER’S DAY

Lê Thị Hàn

New York is beautiful in the spring.
Vivid skies, flowers in bloom
Purple crocus, yellow pansies and narcissus are clustering 
There’s no day in spring more beautiful than Mother's Day.
The sun is warmer, trees are greener,
People begin to wear lighter, softer clothes.
Advertisements are all over the papers

A little boy presents his Mother with a red rose, cheering her like his lover.

A little girl is playing with a string of pearls on her Mother’s neck.
No picture is more beautiful than a picture of Mother and Son or Mother and Daughter.

Mother is the first love.
Mother is your best friend. 
Her gentle voice softens your anger.
Mother is the ear to hear your sadness.
Mother is the pillow to rest your head ,
the bed to lie down on, the chair to lean over.
Mother is the immense eyes.
the smile ready to forgive, to heal your pain, to sooth your worry. 

Mom is infinity.

How do you make Mother happy?
To make her happy for one day is not enough.
To make her happy for a lifetime is easy, yet difficult.

What does Mother like on Mother’s Day?
A bouquet of flowers that bloom forever.
A smile from each child.
Something that money can not buy.
Do not buy presents for Mom.
Rather, take the time to sit with her, talk to her, help her with small things.

What does Mother like on Mother’s Day.
Sit by her as you did when you were young.
Hug her as you did when she had you in her arms. 
Talk to her; she wants to know if you are truly happy.
She likes to hear what is bothering you.
When you were young, you never could keep a secret.
Your big black eyes would come to Mother with a gift hiding behind your back,
whispering: “I can not tell you; it’s a secret.” 
And before Mother even asked, you hastily said:
“The secret is a painting, a gift for you, Mother.” 

Once you gave Mother a coupon book
in which you had coupons with the jobs you would do for her
such as wiping the table, washing the dishes, cleaning the house. 
But when Mother went to redeem the coupons, they had expired!
Why don’t you give her coupons with no expiration date?

What does Mother like for Mother’s Day?
Visit her home town, take care of the house of her ancestors,
go to the graves, walk through the village and the land. 
Visit each of her relatives.
She will tell you not to worry about her,
but rather to take care of the children and people who need  you more than she. 
That will make Mother happy.

What does Mother like for Mother’s Day?
Take her to the nursery. Grow flowers for her.
Mother has a desire to bring vitality to life through blooming flowers
Take her to visit her children and her grandchildren.
Take her to the theater, to a party. 
Allow her to be part of your daily life so she can understand how you live.
Cook a meal for her.
Remember when you awkwardly carried her a tray of breakfast in bed?
The sloppy spread of butter on a slice of bread with fried egg?
The breakfast you spent all morning to prepare with Dad
 that Mother told you was the most delicious meal she had ever had
and better than any delicacy that she had ever experienced?

 What does Mother like for Mother’s Day?
Mother wants harmony. Mother prays for world peace.
Mother wishes people would love one other, not for one day, but every day.
Mother loves to see siblings care for one another
share with one another when rich or poor, when happy or sad.

Do not ask what Mother wants for Mother’s Day.
Asking yourself what you can do for Mother
A smile. A hug. A poem. A bunch of wild flowers. A phone call.
A tune on the piano. Her favorite song. Tell her a cute story,
or just sit idly with her and smile with her.
Mother's joy is simple. 
She is happy when you are happy.
She enjoys just spending time with you, being surrounded by you.

Whether Mother is in her twenties or in her eighties.
Whether Mother is Vietnamese, America, African or European, mother is mother.
Whether Mother is in this milleninium or in the first millennium
Motherhood is always smooth and immense. 
Mother’s love is as vast as the ocean.

Oh dear, you will understand what a Mother’s Love is when you become a Mother.
Do not ask what Mother wants for Mother’s Day.
Ask what you can do to please Mother.
Making Mother happy for one day is not enough.
Making Mother happy for a lifetime is easy, yet a very difficult task

Mother's joy is simple because her happiness in YOU.
Do You know, my dearest? 

Le thi Han
To my children with much love

Hastings-on-Hudson 1996