Silently representing five children
is a ring of precious stones.
Gently encircled by a band of solid gold
is a husband and wife.
A man and women in which the vows
of love were once proudly spoken.

The life of this family ring
of no beginning … no ending
did hold some magic times
... some laughter
... some sorrow
... some pain
the emotions of one family.

It all began as a dream ...
a hope ... a reality of
one man one woman.
The dream of a homestead
to call their very own
the hopes of magic filled days
hoping to last a whole lifetime.

That reality of a family meal
utensils hitting to a tingle of crystal
touching in the form of
Mother's Family Ring.

The creation of only this man and woman
has slowly began to reveal
as old home movies are played
and secretly a glimpse is stolen
between mom and dad
sharing a silent tear of a shy whisper
"was it all that bad?"

As life escapes into yesteryear of little hands ...
little souls ... little minds
all the tender joy
only theirs
and theirs alone.

Too fast the years disrupt
granted years slipped away
good times once cherished
have somehow simply vanished.

Going through the old family album
such tears glisten from so deep inside
as my cry of emotion whispers
"where did it end ... where had it died?"

Whatever happened to the moments
of homestead gatherings ...
whatever happened to all games
with Punky's old bat and ball.

Whatever happened to
good old family tradition?
God! We have today ...
but no one wants to play
for each individual colour stone
has some kind of bitterness ...

But you know,
Mother's Family Ring
of each child borne
... holds five separate teardrops
... a tear from each of us.

It holds all the
unforgotten memories
of yesteryear
everything is wrapped around
that one special finger.

Shall you ever truly look
upon the unpolished stones
or if it should ever truly
brush ever so gently
against you fine tender skin.
Let it be the one gentle reminder
of all the little treasures
all the precious memories that it forever holds.

Whatever happened yesterday
whatever been done and said today
whatever tomorrow holds
Mother's Family Ring
of such precious stones
such fine gold
was and is worth more than money
could ever possibly buy
in all the lifetimes to come.