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 ...My Mother and Her Poetry


I am going to take this opportunity to write about my mother, who is having health issues at this time. She was never famous, but for those who knew her, she is loved and remembered.

Margaret Riesland was born to a farm family in western Racine County, Wisconsin. She loves the state and will not live anywhere else. She had three children, myself and my two sisters. She married William Reindl in 1969 and moved to Milwaukee shortly after that. She has lived in Milwaukee County since then.

This past year has been rough for her physically. She is now unable to care for herself and needs outside help for basic tasks. Things have been touch and go, and she had to leave the apartment she lived in for the 15 years since her husband's death. The contents have been moved to various locations in case they are needed in the future, and I was put in charge of her file cabinet. 

In going over my mother's papers, I have found a folder where a number of her poems were typed up. So to memorialize them and create a permanent digital record, I have started another blog to post them over time. As of the date of writing, the first two are up at the link; more are forthcoming.

Margaret (Riesland) Reindl's Poetry Corner.

These poems (plus a few transcripts of answering machine messages) range from a poem she submitted for a local contest in 1960 through 2003. The date of the poem will be posted, or if there is no date listed, any known context will be provided up front.

These are all small poems (easily printed on one page). They are, however, honest expressions of honest feelings at the time. The only editing I have made on them is to correct spelling; punctuation and capitalization are copied exactly as she printed them.

She was never able to access higher education, but from the material here, she had a very creative mind. There is no doubt in my mind that part of my creativity and intelligence come from her. For this, I am grateful. So in honor of her:

For My Mother

Your poetry must be unique
To win a prize, it's true.
But who can write good poetry
When it's compared to you?

The time is nigh, it does appear
For us to go our way.
And so, while it can still be done,
I now will have my say.

You gave me life, you gave me hope
And gave me room to grow.
And so I give this now to you
My thankfulness to show.

I know your time is precious.
I will not be a thief.
So in this dedicated verse
I plan to make it brief.

But knowing things may not go right.
Let's do what must be done
To make the time that does remain
Productive, strong and fun.

So do your best, and make us proud
Much prouder than we are.
Be strong and brave as in the past,
Our loving, guiding star!

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