My Friend

Bewildered, alone and
Afraid

Troubles and joys tight
Restrained

A stranger came showing
The right path

Gently, kindly and
All unknowing

The stranger led through
The maze

Until the riddle
Was answered

And a poignant awareness
Came

Gone all the bitterness
And pain

Leaving only the shining
Joy for life

Now, begin again, free
From all regret

Led by a stranger whose
beauty and grace

Is exceeded only by her
Wisdom and charm

A stranger, my guide,
My friend

c. 1958

Bridget's Gone By

A squeal, a shrill cry
And Bridget's gone by
Her feet in the air
Wild tossing blond hair
A shoe come untied
Doors left open wide
On her lips there's a song
Does she do nothing wrong?
She's a tease and a clown
Does she never run down?
She's fierce and she's bold
Only five short years old
Oh, stop her, do try!
Oops, Bridget's gone by.

c. 1960

Seeking 2

Yet my tortured soul cries out
Am I worthy?
Do I really care?

Each day my anguish grows
Will he love me?
Will he understand?

Impatient, frustrated slowly passes time
I'll never be younger
Now is the time to act.

But my hair is uncurled and dirty
I don't like to dance
And for certain sure

I make a charming and sweet old maid.

c. 1960

Seeking 1

Love where art thou?
In the flowers, beneath the rocks?

Long have I searched in vain.
In each vaulting note of song,
In every sad refrain.

I seek with singular desire:
To find love and keep love eternally.
My hopes, my joys at last expressed.

Come love to me quickly
Preserving from a barren fate
A soul which craves sweet life,
Fulfillment though the time is short
Joy with contentment full.

c. 1962

Always There

Men who desire omnipotence for their own
Proclaim there is no God.

These are they who strive with greed
For control of free men's minds.

Some men there are who criticize and scoff
And reason sin away.

Morals and self-control must stop they shout
Or full sick will be.

Marching mobs frenzied cry: Stop progress!
Lest their world be blown apart.

In a fearful, frustrated and anxious world
A skeptic, coward humanity.

But faith belies man's reason.
There is a God in Heaven
Giving strength to overcome.

Though doubts assail and the power of evil
Lies heavy round about
Girded with the vigor of faith
Men of courage, hope and humility
Can our world equalize
And overcome temptation, oppression and crises.

Life, a torment to endure.

It is strange enough, Dear Lord, for me to know
That always Thou art there.


Jan. 15, 1962

Reward

Gone youth cherished

All innocence perished

A vacuum left of challenge met and duty done

A mortal state fulfilled

Humbled and subdued

For my reward I sued

A strange world with spoils not of land or gold

But richer yet, I had conquered my own soul

And oh, the sweet release

My new world brings peace

Humbled and subdued

before my reward i stood.

c. 1962

Introduction

This blog is a memorial to Mary Alice Cook Dotson. She was born April 18, 1933 and passed away January 26, 2009. Her obituary is here:
http://www.mvprogress.com/2009/05/obt_dotson
To begin, this will be just a collection of her poems that she wrote. I will simply be guessing dates and titles when they have not been provided.
I am her daughter, youngest of three children that she raised.
My purpose with this is simply to have her words, as they speak to me of her heart, in a place where those close to her and those who loved her can read them. She was very shy about them, she felt they were perhaps too deep of a view into her soul, yet more importantly to her they seemed inadequate. Mom, I'm sharing them because they are beautiful, because your heart, your soul and your faith are beyond compare. I need them as we needed each other.
I love you Mom.