Mother of Mine

My

mother,

beautiful

mother of mine,

her arms – a safe place

her voice – a lullaby,

her love still reaches me from

beyond this life to strengthen and heal –

my mother, beautiful mother of mine.

Picture from 1994

Copyright ©2026 Lisa Paul. All rights reserved.

Written in response to Dawn’s challenge

Dawn’s prompt: Dectina Refrain
In honor of Mother’s Day, write a poem about mothers—by blood or by choice. Focus on unconditional love, and be sure to include the word “mother” (or a variation of it).

Form: Dectina Refrain
The Dectina Refrain is a 10-line, unrhymed, syllabic poem with a precise structure:

• Line 1: 1 syllable
• Line 2: 2 syllables
• Line 3: 3 syllables
• Line 4: 4 syllables
• Line 5: 5 syllables
• Line 6: 6 syllables
• Line 7: 7 syllables
• Line 8: 8 syllables
• Line 9: 9 syllables
• Line 10 (Refrain): Combine the exact text of lines 1–4, in order, as a single closing line

Key Points
The final line should repeat lines 1–4 word-for-word, creating a reflective or cumulative ending.
No rhyme is required.
Keep the syllable count strict for each line.

W3 Prompt #210: Wea’ve Written Weekly