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a family poem, poems about families or family poems for scrapbooking? |
If you're specifically planning a black family reunion, there are some wonderful poems in the book, "Families: Poems Celebrating the African American Experience selected by Dorothy S. Strickland and Michael R. Strickland.
Sometimes a poem expresses exactly what you want to say, with eloquent feeling and emotion that you couldn’t otherwise capture.
The following poems about families are personal favorites. They highlight family relationships and explore family bonds.
So that you can more easily find what you’re looking for, I’ve established the following categories:
Humorous look at sibling relationship
Sad reminiscent of a missed relationship
Relationship between mother and son
(a portion of)
You Know My Brother
by Kevin Bacon, Michael Bacon and Robin Batteau
I’m so glad we’re in this life together.
The more we differ, the more
we’re just the same.
When you’re a brother, you’re a brother forever,
even if he gets all the credit,
and I get all the blame!
When I grow up, I’m going to be
Stronger, taller, smarter, braver, funnier,
Faster, hairier, and a whole lot better at soccer
Than my big brother
by Judith Viorst
Except that my brother is always going to be
Three years, six months, and nine days older than me.
{Return to family poem categories.}
Careless Willie
Anonymous
Willie with a thirst for gore
Nailed his sister to the door
Mother said with humor quaint
“Careful, Willie, don’t scratch the paint!”
{Return to family poem categories.}
Beyond Words
by Robert Frost
That row of icicles along the gutter
Feels like my armory of hate;
And you, you… you, you utter…
You wait.
Choose
by Carl Sandburg
The single clenched fist lifted and ready,
Or the open asking hand held out and waiting.
Choose:
For we meet by one or the other.
{Return to family poem categories.}
My Grandmother
by Elizabeth Jennings
She kept an antique shop—or it kept here.
Among Apostle spoons and Bristol glass,
The faded silks, the heavy furniture,
She watched her own reflection in the brass
Salvers and silver bowls, as if to prove
Polish was all, there was no need of love.
And I remember how I once refused
To go out with her, since I was afraid.
It was perhaps a wish not to be used
Like antique objects. Though she never said
That she was hurt, I still could feel the guilt
Of that refusal, guessing how she felt.
Later, too frail to keep a shop, she put
All her best things in one long narrow room.
The place smelt old, of things too long kept shut,
The smell of absences where shadows come
That can’t be polished. There was nothing then
To give her own reflection back again.
And when she died I felt no grief at all,
Only the guilt of what I once refused.
I walked into her room among the tall
Sideboards and cupboards—things she never used
But needed; and no finger-marks were there,
Only the new dust falling through the air.
{Return to family poem categories.}
Cousins are Cozy
by Mary Ann Hoberman
Cousins are cozy
Wherever they’re from;
They fell like your family
Whenever they come.
Some people have many;
Most people have some.
Cousins are cozy
Wherever they’re from.
{Return to family poem categories.}
What Matters Most (song lyrics)
Martin Nievera
It's not how long we held each other's hand
What matters is how well we loved each other
It's not how far we traveled on our way
Of what we found to say
It's not the spring you see, but all the shades of green
It's not how long I held you in my arms
What matters is how sweet the years together
It's not how many summertimes we had to give to fall
The early morning smiles we tearfully recall
What matters most is that we loved at all.
It's not how many summertimes we had to give to fall
The early morning smiles we tearfully recall
What matters most is that we loved at all.
What matters most is that we loved at all.
Family Comes Together
by Glaedr, the poet
Family comes together
For always and forever
In sickness and in health
In poverty or in wealth
Family comes together
For always and forever
Without any reason
Anytime or any season
Family comes together
For always and forever
In death or in life
In happiness or in strife
Family comes together
For always and forever
In anger or in kindness
Whether all seeing or in blindness
Family comes together
For always and forever
Whether for work or for play
They somehow find a way
For family to come together
Because families are forever
Half-Whole-Step
by Mary Ann Hoberman
I have a half-sister
I have a whole-sister
I have a step-sister
That adds up to three.
I am a half-brother
I am a whole-brother
I am a step-brother
There’s just one of me!
People
by Charlotte Zolotow
Some people talk and talk
and never say a thing.
Some people look at you
and birds begin to sing.
Some people laugh and laugh
and yet you want to cry.
Some people touch your hand
and music fills the sky.
Quilt
by Janet S. Wong
Our family of odd remnants in a strange threads fraying, but made to keep even in bitter Phyllis You knew me when I didn’t know myself I tell you of my joys. My joys increase. Friendship is an art and you have made (Excerpt from "Families: Poems Celebrating the African American Experience" selected by Dorothy S. Strickland and Michael R. Strickland) In both the families I face faces that I see Here is every shade of every color We fit in. {Return to family poem categories.} Market Day Oh for a son Oh, for a son {Return to family poem categories.} Four Generations Sometimes when we go out for walks, The thing he talks of most of all And he went walking with his dad About his father and the talks A Stumbling Block or a Stepping Stone Isn’t it strange that Princes and Kings Each is given a set of tools, Robert, Who Is Often A Stranger to Himself Do you ever look in the looking glass
{Return to family poem categories.} Dad
by Berlie Doherty Dad is the dancing man, But sometimes he’s And I’m a kit without a string What Dads Do Make bookshelves. Play tickles with you when you feel like a silly person. I wish I still had one.
{Return to family poem categories.} Squeezes
by Brian Patten We love to squeeze bananas. Hugs and Kisses Hugs and hugs and kisses… Hugs and hugs and kisses… Mom is Wow! Mothers are finders and keepers Mothers are good-manners makers Mothers are sick-bed sit besiders Mothers are prayer makers in the nights Mother Doesn’t Want a Dog
by Judith Viorst Mother doesn’t want a dog. Mother doesn’t want a dog. Mother doesn’t want a dog, {Return to family poem categories.} Unknown Author Grandma hold me a little longer {Return to family poem categories.} Contributions to Family-Reunion-Success.com are always welcome. So... Here's some of the poems, quotes and sayings submitted by other site visitors. Which ones are your favorites? (Positive comments and constructive criticism ONLY, please.)
They Are All Relatives
Romantic Love Poems by Padmore Agbembiese
I'm A Whole Sister Not rated yet
Special People Make Special Families Not rated yet
Love Far Apart Not rated yet
Mother Hugs Not rated yet
Together Like Wolves Not rated yet
Soul Stain Not rated yet
Family Fingerprints Not rated yet
Families Fight Not rated yet
The True Family Not rated yet Return to the top of this Family Poem page
is a quilt
patched together
pattern,
fabric wearing thin—
its warmth
cold.
by Judith Viorst
And when I lose myself you find me.
Whenever things get bad
And I forget the good I’ve had,
You help remind me.
I tell my sorrows. They diminish.
And when I want to quit
You keep me going, bit by bit,
Until I finish.
The act of friendship your great art form.
I know that I can bear
The biggest chill because you’re there
To keep my heart warm.
by Arnold Adoff
that
both belong to me,
there is every shade
of
brown, and tan,
and paler
honey,
creamy gold.
in
both the families
that
both belong to me,
and
they can face
my crooked
grin.
skin.
relationship between mother and son
©2003 by Susan Noyes Anderson, His Children, Vantage Point Press
when my head is bowed
and years have lined my face––
A stalwart son
with a gentle heart,
where I still hold
a mother's place.
when eyes grow dim
and memories recede––
A spirited son,
a steadfast son,
who sees but does not
fear my need.passing the past onto the future
by Mary Ann Hoberman
I listen while my father talks.
Is how it was when he was small
And conversations that they had
They had when they went out for walks.
Author Unknown
And clowns who caper in stardust rings,
And common people like you and me
Are builders for eternity?
A shapeless mass, and a book of rules,
And each must make, ere life has flown,
A stumbling block or a stepping stone.
by Gwendolyn Brooks
And see a stranger there?
A child you know and do not know,
Wearing what you wear?
a tribute to dads
The laughing-bear, the prickle-chin,
The tickle-fingers, jungle-roars,
Bucking bronco, rocking-horse,
The helicopter roundabout,
The beat-the-wind at swing-and-shot,
Goal-post, scary-ghost,
Climbing-Jack, humpty-back.
A go-away please!
A snorey-snarl, a sprawly lump,
Waiting for Dad to dance again.
by Judith Viorst
Make burgers.
Make money.
Make funny faces that make you laugh.
Scratch your back when you can’t reach where it itches.
Lift you up on their shoulders.
Snore when they’re sleeping (but they say they don’t).
Pitch – but not so fast that you can’t hit their pitches.
Snuggle up close with you when you feel like a sad one.
Dads explain electricity
And peninsulas
And help you count the starts.
a tribute to moms
We love to squeeze ripe plums,
And when they are feeling sad
We love to squeeze our mums.
by Lindamichellebaron
Doesn’t she know that I’m a boy?
Hugs and hugs and kisses…
I’m not some cuddly toy.
Hugs and hugs and kisses…
Boys should be treated rough.
Hugs and hugs and kisses…
These muscles show I’m tough.
Makes me want to run and hide.
I can’t show the world how warm
Her hugs and hugs and kisses
Makes me feel… inside.
by Julia Fields
They are comforters of weepers
They are luller-abye for sleepers.
They are temperature takers
They are the best of birthday bakers.
Mom is Wow!
They are hiding place providers
They are pin-the-tail guiders.
They are enders of quarrels and fights
They are teachers of duties and rights.
Mom is Wow!
{Return to family poem categories.}
humorous look at mom and pets
Mother says they smell,
And never sit when you say sit,
Or even when you yell.
And when you come home late at night
And there is ice and snow,
You have to go back outside because
The dumb dog has to go.
Mother says they shed,
And always let the strangers in
And bark at friends instead,
And do disgraceful things on rugs,
And track mud on the floor,
And flop upon your bed at night
And snore their doggy snore.
She’s making a mistake.
Because, more than a dog, I think
She will not want this snake.grandparents
Rock me a little more
Tell me another story,
(You've only told me four!)
Let me sleep on
your shoulder,
I love your happy
smile, I'll always
love you Grandma,
so stay with
me awhile.
More poems can be found on one of these family poem pages:
Family Reunion Poems - a fun way to describe events and feelings associated with large family gatherings
Poems for Family Reunions - nostalgic poems about remembering the past
Do you have a favorite family quote, poem or saying that I've missed?
hit me with your best stuff! Send me your own original work or favorites that you've heard. Just be sure to include author credit.Contributions from Others
Relatives
by Marie Gemma Aguinaldo Lachica
Sometimes there are relatives that can make and unmake you.
There are relatives who can love or …
I met you
like when the rose I’m holding
was young and half-open to the sky
our eyes met but hardly spoke
and we went our different ways
like …
I'm a Whole Sister
by Heidi Dozier
I consider myself a whole sister.
They only see the half.
How I remember them with every phone call …
It takes special people to raise a family not of their flesh and blood.
It takes a special family to love them and make them feel as if they really …
With love you can share all things
And be glad in it
With family you hold close to your heart
Even though you may be far apart
Hold your mother before it is too late
Make it be love not hate
Because tomorrow will bring another day
She is at rest and we shall pray
How …
Families are like wolves. They travel in a pack and they stay together all the time. Yes, they may fight. But then they're right there beside you …
The tears fall.
They're so easy to wipe
off onto my sleeve.
But how do I erase
the stain from my heart
that touches the soul.
Live for your family
'cause your fingerprints
will never fade from their lives.
-Tayler Imes
The fights.
The nonsense.
And all that other crap.
Just make families stronger.
Even you know that.
A family is not only a group
of persons related by blood
but a group of persons
who stand by each others side
and share all their joys
and …
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