Everyone loves their mother and will express their love to her anytime and in any way, possible. As the case with the spoken word poem, #Dear Mum posted on the YouTube channel Talk Islam. It is a beautiful poem told by a man to his mother describing how much she means to him. The meaning of the poem is amplified with lovely music playing in the background, and visual edits are added to enhance the emphasis on the lines being spoken. All in all, this video is bound to bring tears to your eyes. However, this poem is not just a man talking to his mother, rather it is a story, being told to us, the audience, with underlying themes such as unconditional love, sacrifice, and guilt.
One of the most evident themes in the poem is unconditional love from the mother towards her son. In the poem, it is explained that the mother was in pain for nine months but dealt with it until he was born and showered him with love ever since. The speaker puts it, like love at first sight. When he was a young boy, she was at his beck and call, even when he couldn’t sleep, she was there to put him to sleep. Even when her son was grown and capable of going out at night by himself, she still cared for his well-being. Her son wouldn’t care if he called her or not when he was out yet she would send him messages asking for him to confirm he was safe. Her son disappointed her, but she still cared for his safety and would not be able to sleep until she knew he was safe. Not only that but, she would care for him when he was sick and when he needed her. She would be there for him. The speaker related, “you did it all for me and not ever once asked for a reward.” The mother did express unconditional love towards her son.
Another theme that is clear in this spoken word poem is sacrifice, on the mother’s part for her son. The mother readily her sacrificed herself physically for her son. She would give up her slippers to keep her son’s toes warm. The mother would wake up early to hang her family’s clothes. She would even sacrifice her sleep if she did not know her son was safe. One of the biggest sacrifices is said here “when you became my mother made the trip to move away from yours, I know how much you love her and miss her, and I know that cuts too deep like a sword.” It was an enormous toll paid on her part for the sake of her children. The mother had put her relationship with her mother on the back-burner to properly care for her children; this was a large toll paid on her part for the sake of her children. The speaker’s mother, sacrificed her time, her physical health, sleep and personal relationships for her son.
It is evident throughout the poem that the son feels immense guilt and shame regarding the actions he had shown towards his mother in the past. The speaker apologizes constantly throughout the poem for his actions. He apologizes “I’m sorry for the pain that is caused by the nights you didn’t sleep and for all those missed calls for the fights we had” He says sorry for the times he complained when she asked for help with the chores. He feels immense shame even over the little things as he even apologizes for his messy room and scattered clothes that should have been in his drawers. Most of all the speaker apologizes for what he couldn’t be for his mother; he apologizes for the promises he didn’t fulfill, the cars he didn’t get her, the countries he didn’t send her to. We find out at the end of the poem that the speaker’s mother is deceased; this must add even more shame on the speaker. The speaker expresses shame and guilt towards himself for treating his mother the way he did.
As shown in this spoken word poem, the poem is not just a man speaking to his mother, rather it is a story, being told to us, the audience, with underlying themes such as unconditional love, sacrifice, and guilt. There are various lines spoken and expressed throughout the video accurately portray the unconditional love and sacrifice shown by the mother towards the son, and the immense guilt and shame shown by the son in response to his actions.
Questions
- Does this make sense?
- I am being too repetitive?
- What can I do to add spice to this analytical essay?
- What can I do to make the introduction more interesting?
- I am having an issue with finishing my conclusion in an good way, any suggestions?
