For Mum

The kiss of the sun for pardon
The song of the birds for mirth
One is nearer to God's heart in a garden
Than anywhere else on earth
Rudyard Kipling

Lola Nora McInnes

25/6/23-30/12/10

I left my homeland in 1977.

Mum was the lighthouse that guided me home, my leading light.
a warming welcome and familiarity.
she was my roots, my heritage, my cultural identity,my inherited identity.
Mum was love, values, loyalty, duty, honour, dignity and pride.
She was determination and family.
Mum was grace and kindness, love and acceptance, humour and always a hankie in her hand.
She was determination and family.
Mum was openhearted and friendship, generosity and hospitality and unconditional love.
She was determination and family.
Mum was independence and tradition, a warm embrace, trust and expectations.
She was determination and family
Mum was music and humming (I hum, my daughter hums!), laughter and courage, faith and belief.
She was determination and family.
Mum was solidarity and fairness, respect and compassion. god dwelled within her.
She was determination and family.
The story teller, the rugby fan, ginger gems, pavlova, cheese scones and endless cups of tea.
She was determination and family, whanau.
Mum was a garden, muddy gumboots, of the earth, spade in hand. She was mother earth, she is the earth.
She was my Mum.
My leading light has been extinguished. How can I find my way home?