6 Poems to Celebrate Mother-Daughter Relationships
Mother-daughter relationships are often complex and deeply meaningful. On National Daughters Day this year, it’s important to recognize and appreciate how our mother figures have shaped us into the women we are today. From work to homecare to emotional guidance, moms are constantly providing indispensable support for their families.
Poetry provides us with renewed insights into how resilient, multi-faceted, and wise mothers can be, allowing us to acknowledge and express more gratitude for having them in our lives. In honor of mother-daughter relationships, we’ve compiled a list of poems highlighting this unique bond.
“Lessons from Mumma” and “A Thank You Note”
When we’re young, it can be easy for daughters to dismiss their mothers’ advice as irrelevant to daily life. As many of us get older, though, these lessons become more and more applicable. From owning your unique, powerful voice to embracing vulnerability and bravery, moms provide us with clarity and encouragement during challenging times. “Lessons from Mumma,” found in The Sun and her Flowers by Rupi Kaur, and “A Thank You Note” by Lang Leav perfectly communicate this special relationship.
Lessons from Mumma
when it came to listening
my mother taught me silence
if you are drowning their voice with yours
how will you hear them she asked
when it came to speaking
she said do it with commitment
every word you say
is your own responsibility
when it came to being
she said be tender and tough at once
you need to be vulnerable to live fully
but rough enough to survive it all
when it came to choosing
she asked me to be thankful
for the choices i had that
she never had the privilege of making
A Thank You Note
You have told me
all the things
before I knew
I needed to hear them
To be unafraid
Of all the things
I used to fear
Before I knew
I shouldn’t fear them
Little Astronaut
Early motherhood is filled with both excitement and overwhelm. J. Hope Stein’s Little Astronaut explores these dynamics, allowing new moms to feel seen during this significant life chapter. In “a quiet” and “The Now-Clock,” Stein cleverly highlights relatable, humorous moments with her child. Although Stein is writing from a mother’s perspective, daughters can also connect with the poet’s words, reminding us of our own childhood memories spent with our moms.
a quiet
is the sound of troublemaker
toilet paper
looping around the furniture
The Now-Clock
The now-clock is the clock of a toddler in which every number is replaced by the word
“now” and the hands of now are always pointed directly at the now or between two nows.
Hopefully these poems have inspired you to celebrate your relationship with the mother figure in your life. If you connected with these works, share them with your mom!
