To my mom-
Thank you
Thank you for the midnight conversations and late night drives
Thank you for always making sure that I was okay after an argument
Thank you for remembering my favorite candle scents and the way I like my hot chocolate
Thank you for understanding that sometimes the only way to let out emotion is with a good old fashioned swear word
Thank you for hyping up my favorite sunglasses, even though I know you don’t like them very much
Thank you for keeping all of the gifts I made you in elementary school. I swear when I made your favorite clay cat, I really thought it looked like a cat!
Thank you for not only making my lunch for school everyday, but for also writing notes in it to remind me of all the things you love about me
Thank you for teaching me how to paint my nails and braid my hair
Thank you for letting me tell you about my favorite book characters over and over again with no complaint
Thank you for helping my dye my hair each time I decided I needed a new color
Thank you for making lemon cakes on each of my birthdays
Thank you for teaching me about the power a tough looking pair of boots can give you.
Thank you for always being there to remind me that my worth is never based on what someone else may think of me
Thank you for making sure I always have my chargers before I head to class
Thank you for guiding me, but still letting me pave my own path in life
Thank you for teaching me the difference between treating someone with respect and actually respecting them
Thank you for showing me that it is okay to disobey authority when it is needed to ensure that I have done all I can for those around me
Thank you for making sure that I know no matter what I do, you will always be proud of the person I am
Thank you for loving me and teaching me to be a strong independent woman
But most of all,
Thank you for being my Mom
Liberty Brooke is a poet from Ludington, Michigan. She uses poetry as a form of self expression, of connection, and community. Many common themes in her poetry include love, gratitude, anxiety, longing, and heartbreak. You can find her on both Instagram and Tiktok @apoetinflames.