Mother (a poem inspired by Nellieanne H. Hay)
75.........................Earth
Clean and warm like the sand along the shoreline you are for me
Like a piece of mineral – a precious stone – you sparkle in my world
You’re a rock, a shining beacon, a guide worthy of my trust
Layer of fertile soil in which I grow you are for me.
.
..........................Fire
Like a campfire you are keeping me under a spell
Your words are hypnotic flames of wisdom and sacred truths
Warm but not to be touched you attract and unfreeze
and cook my rawness to consumable alimental thoughts.
.
.........................Water
Mothered by a fountain you are a stream flowing down the hill
In spots waterfalls reflecting rainbows and images of fairies
A crystal-clear pool you are sprinkling showers of insight
You are springwater, Mamma, quenching my thirst for eternal verity.
.
...........................Air
You are pure oxygen emitting the scent of jasmine and roses
Life-giving breath you are when I gasp in my suffocating past
You are cool and fresh, healing and delighting power
You are, my dearest Mother, the elements of paradise.
.
........ © Martie Coetser (August 2011)
Nellieanne H. Hay
Nellieanna is one of the most remarkable women I’ve ever met in my life. Her outstanding intelligence and wisdom, her insight and vision, her entire pure heart and soul, sparkles on the pages of HubPages like diamonds in the crown of queen.
Since my arrival in HubPages Nellieanne fascinates me. Her poems, in fact all her writings, provoke in me the emotions of a child wandering in Fairyland, and of a girl dreaming about the boy she is madly in love with, and of a woman who realizes that the reason why she loves her man is inter alia because of his shortcomings, for they are her opportunities to be herself. Nellieanne often provokes in me the sadness of a woman who still loves her man in spite of the fact that he had disappointed her in many ways; she sends me with the words of her poems and her enchanting art and artistic skills to a virtual heaven where everything is perfect.
Nellieanne was born on the 2nd of February 1932 and is currently, at the age of seventy-nine, still as active as a young business woman eager and positive on her way to the summit of success. She is emotionally, physically and mentally independent, but although she has a supportive nature, always encouraging others to realize their full potential, she doesn’t allow others to be dependent on her.
She had more than the fair share of heartache life has in stock for humans, and yet she shines like a spotless diamond. She is like stainless steel; life had not rusted her, but had polished her to absolute brightness and smoothness.
I call Nellieanne my mother in cyberspace because my love for her is as intense as my love for my own mother, and perhaps more, because I don’t know any of her shortcomings. She is my role model of a woman with dignity and pride that is not puffed-up, but rooted in a true, nonsubjective perception of her self and her worth.
I can go on and praise Nellieanne H. Hay forever and a day, but just because praise embarrasses a woman (and man) who does not seek the limelight, but only her fair place under the sun, I’m going to end this hub with an earnest wish that Nellieanne may enjoy good health and only happiness until the end of her days.
Thank you so much, Nellieanne, for sharing your thoughts via your beautiful poems and profound comments with all of us.
A few links to Nellieanne's enchanting poetry
Some books about mothers
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Writer’s request:
Thank you for always voting me UP and awesome and utterly magnificent – I honestly appreciate your approval, but I will also appreciate some coaching in English as it is not my mother-tongue and I speak it literally ‘by ear’. In high school I used to scrape through English, and still, after many years of using the monkey-see-monkey-do-method, I don’t always know which way to turn when it comes to tenses. Please post your critique and recommendations down here, or at least send me an e-mail. I thank you in anticipation.
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Lovely work, and your tribute to our beautiful Nellieanna is spot on.
This is a lovely tribute to the very special Nellienanna that we all have come to admire and respect. Her enormous talent in writing poetry is truly remarkable.
A beautiful tribute to a special lady.
Nellieanna is onme of the most prolific, vivacious, intelligent writers here on the hubs. She's been so sweet to me; she's a treasure. Lovely and touching tribute.
MartieCoetser you have written a very fine Hub regarding a very fine writer. Your acknowledgment of her achievements are worthy of a loving daughter.
*** prashant8
*** WillStarr
*** Pamela99
*** A.A. Zavala
*** mckbirdbks
Thank you so much for praising Nellieanne with me. She is such a bright star amongst us. Although I know she does not need any recognition and praise – even without it she will be contented and outstanding creative - my admiration for her is now overflowing. Thanks again.
I am truly touched and amazed, my dear Martie! I was just checking the list of new posts (which I don't always do, I admit with shame) and this literally almost knocked me off my chair! What an unexpected, warm, loving poem and all the other words from your heart! I hardly know what to say, except that I am humbled and honored by YOUR praise and genuine love, dear Martie.
I suppose we all question ourselves and "what am I doing here?" comes to mind at times. But when someone who is as beloved and respected as you are acknowledges my worth and good influence - the question is answered in full!
So let me thank you - thank you - thank you! This is not the easiest kind of poem to write, either - but you did so with dignity and grace.
Hugs and love.
Nellieanna
Lovely tribute - that we all could have mothers that are so deserving of a tribute.
Nellieanna – My respect, admiration and love for you are deep and sincere – but you know this, and I am by far not the only one in here who holds you in high esteem. I’m battling to get the poem on a sound track – still have to get on top of the techno. I’ll send you the link as soon as I’ve succeeded. Yes, I know that question: What am I doing here? But then, somehow, we are always at the right time at the right place to do something that should be done, whether it is a wrong or a right. God, Fate, whatever we want to call the power we cannot control, is an autocrat dressed like a democrat. Apparently we make our own choices and bear the consequences, but later, when we look back, we see a specific pattern and realize that life is after all not about us, but about Something we cannot comprehend. Or we can just accept life as totally futile, which I prefer not to accept. Enjoy the rest of your weekend, my dearest HubMamma :))) You are so-so special.
Every beautiful word you have written, Martie, in praise of our lovely Nellieanna, is absolutely true. She IS a gem and a one-of-a-kind unique personality that we can all hope to emulate in some small way.
And you, m'dear, are very special, too. Trust me.
Phil Plasma – Thanks so much for your comment. It is, indeed, sad that many have to go through this life with the knowledge that their biological mother was/is for some or another reason not able to perform her duties according to expectation. But if we look deeper, we will notice that the role of a mother (and father and all we need) is actually played by somebody and quite often by more than one person. Maybe we should just love each other the best we can, for the receiver to enjoy and appreciate exactly what he/she needs. Imagine the abundance of love in the lap of the receiver?
drbj – my favorite professor :)) The embrio of a poem inspired by you is busy to grow rapidly in my mind. I wonder what its going to look like? Thanks so much for confirming Nellieanne’s worth in this community, and thank you for the lovely compliment. I do trust you.
Dear Martie, yes, I know. We've demonstrated our mutual caring & esteem when it matters, haven't we? There's no doubt about it to me!
Oh yes, so right that we are somehow where we need to be to do something we are meant to do for someone else; even for ourselves. There seems to be plan and a force in charge of that. But I suspect that making our choices and taking our responsibility is also a big part of the plan. We don't get off scot-free. :-) Whatever and what-all it is, life is definitely not a futile thing!
Y'know, SaddleRider and several other respected writers are using an online service called SoundCloud to record their poetry in their own voices. http://soundcloud.com/ He has links on some of his latest poems to hear them, has mentioned it to me to try. I haven't as yet, but I'm interested and it might work for you to avoid those techno problems you've encountered. Apparently it's a simple enough procedure.
I'm truly awed and humbled by the comments here saying lovely thngs about me. Talk about "warm fuzzes"! It's all that and more. I can't begin to express my appreciation and love for my dear friends here. Hugs and kisses.
Very nice poem. I enjoyed it.
What a beautiful tribute you made for a beautiful soul. Her poems always bring me the most profound sense of peace and no one else's do it. This shines with the love you have infused. Thank you for sharing.
Nellieanna – Yes, we just never get off scot-free – we even pay for the wrong choices made by our ancestors, and, of course, we reap the fruit of the right choices they’ve made. I’m trying to get myself in soundcloud.com, but a simple problem with my microphone has to be solved first. I plan to call a PRO tomorrow. Hugs and kisses for you too, Nellieanna. (11:00pm SA-time)
*** BobbiRant
*** poetvix
Thank you for comments. Some things, especially love, just demand to be announced through poetry. Though I will not sell myself as a poet, I love writing it according to my own rules. Nellieanne is, of course, a born poet with her own unique, fascinating style. I love spending time in her corner.
Well my dear Martie I had first ventured into Nellieanna's latest hub and voila it was about two cyber buddies mother/daughter and I was blown away by Nellianna's wonderful words about you and her. I then clicked the link to yours and equally am blown away.
Here are two amazing ladies and very talented writers of verse and prose sharing their love for one another with passion. I am so happy to read these two scribes. More of us need to let our souls speak to us and put it out there for the world to read.
There is little time to share LOVE like this and never should one feel shy or reluctant to show LOVE. These two hubs are sheer respect for each others words, their pure eloquence, thoughtfulness and caring words that bring tears rolling down our cheeks. I am honored to know the both of you almost equally well. I await anxiously as another hub is produced by you both and come in as quickly as I can to read them. I never leave disappointed, but instead uplifted and all the more in love with the both of your writings.
I am truly humbled to be included as your friend in cyber space and I felt the love with every comment you leave for each other and at any of my hubs. Let's shout out to the world how we feel for one another. I have this love for many here at the Hubs, but there are always a select few who we want to Yell it to from the ROOF TOPS. I love you little sista, keep writing, sharing and it will come back to you a 1000 fold. Hugs from me to you always.
What a lovely article, full of love and inspiration :)
Such a beautiful tribute. It is so emotional and so loving that it stirs my heart to read your praises of your cyber mother. Love and friendship developing a beautiful relationships and it is lovely to see two hubbers who were obviously meant to be part of one another’s lives.
I have yet to meet Nellieanna but will pop along and visit now.
Very profound and touched the most intimate part of my soul. What a beautiful and loving tribute that is captured within the vessels of magical words. Clearly enveloped in love.
Thank you so much. You have made my day!
I know of the special relationships between moms and daughters. Using the four elements you've written a unique and awe inspiring tribute to yours Martie. That's quite a gift you have. Heart and high brain power. The tops for mom, and us.
*** saddlerider1 – It is amazing how we grow in cyberspace – closer to one another, or away, while we also become older/wiser/riper.
We are only spirit/heart/soul in cyberspace, no body, while in reality we are all body and seldom spirit/heart/soul. In reality we hide our thoughts – we are too busy to share it with others, or too tired, or too unhappy and not willing to burden the people we know with our anxieties, or perhaps too happy, but oblige to stay stalled in our self-images. Fact is, in this hectic (real) life we live, like Henry David Thoreau said, indeed lives of quiet desperation. But here at the Hubs we find others who have the time to ‘listen’ and respond – Let’s say we spend our alone-time productively in here with our kindred spirits. Thanks, Saddle, I appreciate your friendship and support tremendously.
*** oballesansano – Many years ago I realized that people utter critique and negative thoughts about others promptly, but seldom or never give compliments to each other, or confess their adoration for each other. Why wait until the opportunity to do the latter slipped out of reach? Thanks so much for leaving me your opinion, oballesansano. Take care!
Rosemay50 – Nellieanne’s hubs is out of this world. I can spend hours in her corner, pondering over her short, unique poems. They are loaded with wisdom. We are all unique, but Nellieanne’s is unique unique. Thank you for your kind comment. I look forward to read your hubs. Take care.
Your heart's speaks volumes Ladies xx
pennyofheaven – Your comment touched my heart. I’m glad this hub has made your day. I know all daughters would like to give a poem like this to their mothers, but not all daughters can do it, because their mothers don’t mean to them what Nellieanne means to me. Fortunately I have a lovely mother in real life as well. She is a quiet and secretive lady and a devoted Christian. She will, however, not like any of my hubs. According to her idea of a perfect woman I am too outspoken, too open-minded, too audacious, too rebellious and worse of all, agnostic, and if God don’t show mercy to me, I will end up in hell. But in spite of this she loves me and she believes with all her heart that God loves me too and He will take care of me in His own way. Thanks so much for your comment, pennyofheaven. Take care.
Alastar Packer – Thanks so much for your comment. I truly appreciate your interpretation of this poem, for I always – most of the time – try to connect my emotions (heart) to my brain.
Martie,
This is a magical and touching tribute, descriptive of the most sacred relationship I know- that of a Mother and her Daughter. Knowing how beautiful you are, both inside and out, I now know how special Nellieanne is from this heartfelt labor of love. Voted UP & AB, mar.
Martie, this is an outstanding tribute to Nellieanna! We all love her and her gentle yet strong writings that take us gently into her world and teach us true value and the simplicity of life, right down to the bones. I believe you have captured the style, rythm and structure of one of her own, for I felt the same way in reading this poem of yours. They say to copy someone's style is the highest form of flattery. And not only did you copy the style, but you made it all about Nellieanna. She truly is a woman deserving of our love and admiration, she is a role model for me too and I hang on every word she leaves on my hubs. She is always positive, life-affirming and hopeful. You, my friend, possess those very same qualities, and I love reading you hubs although I don't make it here as often as I'd like. Take care Martie, and brightest blessings of the universe.
This is such a wonderful hub about a wonderful person who is graceful,talented, optimistic,kind,joyful,versatile and what not....the list is endless. Nellieanna is truely a special person and we all are honoured to have found her through hubpages.Thank you Martie for sharing this!! voted up!
marcoujor – Nellieanne is certainly the queen of poets in Hubland. I so wish she consider publishing them in e-books.
Erin LeFey – How wonderful to see you in my corner! Nellieanne’s hubs are for me like the books about fairies I’ve read as a child – absolutely fascinating. She is for me the representation of Mother Fairy, making my wishes come true. Reading her poems before putting off the lights at night is so relaxing – I fall asleep with dreams already in my mind. And yes, her comments are loaded with wisdom. So Erin, then you, too, is a cyber-daughter of Nellieanne? Now there! I’m proud to be your cyber-sibling.
I haven’t copy a structure of one of Nellieanne’s poems. Never thought of doing that. She has such a unique style! Perhaps I will try, one day, after I’ve managed to establish my own style, which seems to be unchangeable since I started to ‘commit’ poetry as a teenager. I still have a lot to learn about poetry. But I love the challenge and the opportunity to play with words.
Thanks for your visit, Erin, and your lovely comment.
sonia05 – Welcome in my corner, and thank you so much for agreeing with me. I read Nellieanne’s poems since the day I arrived at the Hubs, and by now I’m totally addicted to them. Just like a mother feeds her children with food, Nellieanne enlightens me, and all of us, with esoteric thoughts. What amazes me is the fact that she was able to write many of those far-above-ordinary-life-poems while she was extremely stressed and unhappy, and the rest while she was extremely happy. Thanks for coming by, sonia!
Hi, Martie, your poem was wonderful, and this tribute to our lovely Nellieanna even more so, she is an amazing lady, and I think everyone on here loves her to bits! lol but seriously you have such a kind heart to, that shines through, have a great weekend and take care, nell
Martie, I'm sorry for saying that your style was the same as nellieanna's but the way the words flowed and how it made me feel was so similar. I think, dear sister, that you have inherited mother's melodic mind for poetry! Your poem is absolutely beautiful and the way it is written with the subject in the line first and then the descriptive words after, and then some that stand alone - its late here, i can't really describe it, but it rang in my mind like the little songs that Nellieanna's always bring to mind like a music box that plays in the background when I'm reading her poetry. I love you both!
Erin LeFey -:) No need to say you’re sorry. I was not offended. Actually, I regarded your ‘suspicion’ as a compliment. We do rub off on each other. Picking up some idea here and some idea there... in the process we grow. Even when we try to copy one, our personal style will be clearly identifiable. I suppose you are very busy unpacking? Have a great day, Erin! I love you too :))
This was a beautiful tribute to the one of the best hubbers here. Very inspiring poem. Thanks for share with us and I love James Blunt songs. Vote up.
Prasetio
prasetio - Thank you for coming by. It is always nice to see you in my corner, and wonderful when you agree with the contents of my hub.
A great poem, 5 stars rated.
Thank you, howcurecancer!
Good one, Martie! Nellieanna is such a wonderful artist and writer. Your tribute is beautiful. Thanks for sharing it.
Love and peace
Tony
Thanks Tony for agreeing with me about Nellieanna. She is truly a lovely person. And so are you. It is wonderful to see you again in my corner - I feel honored. Mooi loop, my vriend!
i admired today nellieanna...really thankful for having here you both...thanks for making it published
Moneycop, welcome in my corner and for following me. I'm looking forward to read your hubs. And here's to Nellieanna, the queen of poets.
Both Nellieanna And This Poem Are Life Affirming Martie.;)
Mentalist acer, your comment is deeply appreciated. Thanks a lot :)
....now there is a hub tag team if there ever was one:
the absolutely sublime Nellieanna and the hottest gal in town (and hopefully in my town, soon) Martie Coetser - who needs the Playboy Mansion when the epi-man has got women here who are stunningly beautiful and sexy but brilliant thinkers and world class writers - and that to me is sexy in itself - a lady who is independent yet sweet a lady who is tough but gentle a lady who is just like Martie and Miss N .......
lake erie time breathless for you two but if you really want to know it's 9:32pm
Epi, can you imagine me and Nellieanne as two bunny-girls in your Playbou Mansion? Lol! Well, as long as I can write as much as I like... and do HubPages.... and listen to my favorite music... But I will not wear that silly tail... :))))
1:00am Monday - off to bed now :)
I enjoyed greatly your lovely poem, We only get one Mother and she should be so precious to us......... As for Nellieanna, I have only recently come across this lady and enjoyed her poetry greatly and enthused at her very intelligent and forthright critique. She seems to be an invaluable part of Hub pages and a blessing to all those who are lucky enough to entertain her...Great Hub. Voted UP UP UP
Scarface, Nellieanne is certainly held in high esteem by all. I am sure I am not the only one who regard her as my mother in cyberspace. Thanks a lot for your kind comment.
What a beautiful tribute to a lovely lady. HubPages is indeed a close and caring community and the many close friends we make are here for life.
I often wondered what I did before HP.
Your kind and caring nature Martie shines through your words brightly.
I vote up up and awwayy here.
Here's to many more for us to share on here.
Take care my friend,
Eiddwen.
Eiddwen – It is so nice to see you in this special corner I’ve created for Nellieanne. That story about ‘Rose’ you’ve posted in FB, reminded me of Nellieanna. She is such a beautiful example for all of us. I definitely want to be like her by the time I am 60. Until then I still have a lot to change about myself.
Before HP I was a workoholic. Until late at night. Long story.... I did not allow myself to get involved with people. They were merely a responsibility I had to take care of - and cope with - to the best of my ability. But this is a long story. Here in HP I’ve discovered the me I was ages ago, before I was disappointed by Life.
Eiddwen, here’s to many more for us to share on here and elsewhere! Take care.
Martie - It has been to long since I have visited your magnificent hubs. I plan to make up for that, starting now. This beautiful tribute to the stunning Nellieanna, is so lovely...I had tears in my eyes as I read it.
It takes one beautiful soul to recognize and cherish the beauty in another.
I so loved this line - "Your words are hypnotic flames of wisdom and sacred truths." Magnificent! I have voted UP and across the board. Thank you. vocalcoach
vocalcoach – Hi, my dearest co-hubber. I’m not blaming you for neglecting me so atrociously. Lol! No, I understand too well that we just don’t have enough time to visit all our followers. But I’m all the way aware of your presence and the lovely way you support hubbers who really need your unique words of encouragements. I also know you will do the same for me whenever I need you. I’m so glad you enjoyed this tribute to Nellieanna. Without any doubt she is a mother for many of us. Take care, my dear friend.
Outstanding! This is pure grace. Well written and classy! Wonderful!
Ubanichijioke - I wonder what is the meaning of your name? Thanks so much for your inspiring comment. Take care!
Hello Martie, I first read Nellieanna's tribute to you and now I read yours. Simply wonderful. It's amazing when you find a friend in cyberspace who you bond with via your heart and not your eyes. Looking forward to following you!
Sunshine, I've just read this poem for the first time since I've published it, and it pulled my tears. I am a sentimentalist when it comes to love... all kinds of love. It is the most awesome feeling in my heart. I love to love and hate to hate. I'm so glad we've met. See you soon.
Best wishes for a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year. This is a wonderful tribute to a wonderful woman, Nellieanna, your cyberMOM. I've just read Nellieanna's hub tribute to you and left a comment. All the best.
This poem is written so lovely that your affection towards Nellieanne H. Hay is honest and pure. The way with which you compared her to the godly nature and to other precious things is immaculate. Up and beautiful.
radhikasree, I simply adore Nellieanne H. She is my role model, but I know I will never be as smart and classy as she.
as i said
empire mike, I've heard you. 'Magical and mysterious' Nellieanna is indeed. I love spending time in her corner; she has restored my faith in life and love; thanks to her (and other wonderful hubbers in here) I've lost my sinister and skeptical attitude towards men and love. I truly love her in a special way and hope to be like her when I grow up :))
Oh, I will never be like her! She has qualities one has to be born with, and I was surely not born with half of them... :))
But I do love myself the way I am... Lol! I belief people rub off on each other... So I will stay close to nellieanna :))
gee, i have recently had 2 female "acquaintances" tell me essentially that i am a "bad investment." between them and my ex-wife, i my attitude toward women is currently in a state of disrepair.
ps: the last one to tell me that was just last week. she is a recent member of hubpages-NOT coincidentally- and said i was "mushy" because i used the term "all my love" to nellieanna. when i continuously asked her if that was a bad thing, and she evaded the question, i finally pinned her down and got her to admit that it was bad (in person). afterward she posted a comment on hp saying i'm too negative and i wasn't worth wasting her time on. apparently i should be getting drunk all the time and not taking anything seriously. i certainly don't take her seriously, i'm glad to admit. i'm glad things are better for you though, martie, with your attitudes. i know things take time. all my love!
empire mike ~ You are at present not ‘for sale or for rent’; you are ‘in for repairs’. Don’t take the opinions of buyers and investors to heart.
If we regard other people, even our own children, as ‘investments’, we will find ourselves over and over completely bankrupt. In this life we have to give all we have – all our love, dedication, loyalty, name-it... We have to give 100% and we can but only hope to receive in return 30% of what we need. Happiness is in giving; disappointment is in receiving.
Yes, it takes a lot of time to retrieve some sense of trust and hope after you’ve lost it. They are like wild birds – once out of our hearts, they are free.... gone.... never to return...
But for me it was good riddens.... Without them I have learned how to live from day to day, from hour to hour, enjoying every minute of it with ALL my heart.
My mother’s motto finally became mine: Don’t expect anything from anybody and even not from Life (including God), and you will never be disappointed.
I may as well also end this message with ‘all my love’, because while I was writing it, you had all my attention, and therefore also all the love I am able to give you through the screen of my computer.
This is the first hub that I read of yours!! Only 5 months ago!? No way! It feels like we've known each other for years!!:)
prashant8 9 months ago
nice yaar