“Adopted,” A poem for a cold Saturday afternoon

My step-mother Arlene Pollack published her second poetry collection, Persons, Places, and Things. Here is the first poem in the collection.

 

Adopted

Knowing full well my search would lead nowhere,

With eyes veiled to conceal my interest,

I have looked for Mother in places known and rare.

 

At first I sought her in those places where

My heart felt most at home, yet, all the while,

Knowing full well my search would lead nowhere.

 

One summer in Rome, I thought I’d seen her there,

Retraced my steps to find her shop; could not.

I have looked for Mother in places known and rare.

 

I have looked for Mother deep within my heart,

Studying myself, the children I have borne,

Knowing full well my search would lead nowhere.

 

In my travels, making time to spare,

I have searched through records, for what I do not know.

I have looked for Mother in places known and rare.

 

I have not found my mother anywhere;

Yet she has never once been lost to me;

Knowing full well my search would lead nowhere,

I have looked for Mother in places known and rare.