30 Beautiful Mother-Son Poems To Represent Their Bond

Explore these literary works to convey your unconditional love to the world.

Reviewed by John Ryan De Oca, Relationship Expert
Written by Sneha Tete, Integrated MA, Certified Relationship Coach
Edited by Subhrojyoti Mukherjee, MA (English)  • 

Nothing compares to the unconditional love shared between a mother and son. Unfortunately, words often fall short in describing the deep bond you share. But some tear-jerking mother-son poems can help you express your love for each other.

Certain moments in life may trigger you to tell your mom how much she has impacted your life. Or you could be a mother looking for the words to appreciate your son just before he gets married or moves to a different country. Or you may just want to celebrate the unconditional love you share. Whatever the occasion, we have the right words for you. Keep reading to check out these powerful poems that best describe the bond between a mother and her son.

30 Beautiful Poems About Mother-Son Relationship

Best Mother To Son Poems

Best mother to son poems
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1. Son, I Owe All My Gray Hairs To You

I had brown hair when you were born,
But that didn’t last very long.
I owe my gray hairs to you, my boy,
And I’ll remind you how I got each one.
Those gray hairs at my temples
All came out from the time you went fishing
In your Daddy’s expensive saltwater tank,
And some of those fish are still missing.
Those gray hairs along my hairline
Are not highlights I got from my beautician
They appeared when you tore through the neighbor’s garden
Like you were on a search and destroy mission
That smattering of gray you see
Growing right out of my crown
Is a souvenir I got from that wedding
Where you hurled on the bride’s fancy gown.
They say gray hair is a mom’s badge of honor,
And that may very well be true,
But I wouldn’t trade them for all the world,
If it meant one less second with you
Kelly Roper

2. Mother To Son

Well, son, I’ll tell you:
Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.
It’s had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor—
Bare.
But all the time
I’se been a-climbin’ on,
And reachin’ landin’s,
And turnin’ corners,
And sometimes goin’ in the dark
Where there ain’t been no light.
So, boy, don’t you turn back.
Don’t you set down on the steps.
‘Cause you find it’s kinder hard.
Don’t you fall now—
For I’se still goin’, honey,
I’se still climbin’,
And life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.
Langston Hughes

We Go Together Like Mother And Son by Michele Meleen
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3. We Go Together Like Mother And Son

Peanut butter and jelly,
moon and star,
these iconic pairings
can’t compare to what we are.
We go together like mother and son
a match made in heaven.
We’re stick together
whether you’re seven or eleven!
When two things fit
like the Earth and the sun,
they can only be mother and son.
Michele Meleen

4. The Mother’s Son

I have a dream– a dreadful dream–
A dream that is never done.
I watch a man out his mind,
And he’s my Mother’s Son
They pushes him into a Mental Home,
And that is like the grave:
For they do not let you sleep upstairs,
And you aren’t allowed to shave.
And it was not disease or crime
Which got him landed there,
But because they laid on My Mother’s Son
More than a man could bear
What with noise and fear of death,
Waking, and wounds, and cold,
They filled the Cup for My Mother’s Son
Fuller than it could hold.
They broke his body and his mind
And yet they made him live,
And They asked more of My Mother’s Son
Than any man could give.
For just because he had not died,
Nor been discharged nor sick,
They dragged it out with My Mother’s Son
Longer than he could stick….
And no one knows when he’ll get well —
So, there he’ll have to be:
And, ‘spite of the beard in the looking-glass,
I know that man is me!
Rudyard Kipling

5. A Mother Knows Her Son

My dear, sweet boy
I’ve seen it all
from your first kicks
to your first kiss.
You might think right now
you know it all,
but I’ve seen more of you
than you ever knew.
A Mother knows her son
better than anyone ever could
because I gave you life
and help you shine your light.
Michele Meleen

6. Mother And Son

My son
I am here
I cannot protect you
From the world.

My son
I am here
I can only love you
No matter what

My son
I am here
My love unconditional
On this you can rely

My son
I am here
To guide and to teach you
And now you must fly

My son
I am here
Life can be difficult
I hear your cry

My son
I am here
Changes are painful
Never forget who you are

My son
I am here
Maintain the faith
In yourself and in God

My son
I am here
Self-acceptance is yours
Do not fear

My son
I am here
Rose Falcone

7. Wishes For My Son

If wishes were like seeds
on a dandelion in the yard,
I blow mine out on a breeze
for Mother Nature to safeguard.

I’d wish for my son
to be happy and free
like the bright burning sun
or a bird in a tree.

I’d wish for my son
to feel safe and loved
like man when life had begun
and the angels up above.
Michele Meleen

8. Mother And Son

Now all day long the man who is not dead
Hastens the dark with inattentive eyes,
The woman with white hand and erect head
Stares at the covers, leans for the son’s replies
At last to her importunate womanhood-
Her hand of death laid on the living bed;
So lives the fierce compositor of blood.

She waits; he lies upon the bed of sin
Where greed, avarice, anger writhed and slept
Till to their silence they were gathered in:
There, fallen with time, his tall and bitter kin
Once fired the passions that were never kept
In the permanent heart, and there his mother lay
To bear him on the impenetrable day.

The falcon mother cannot will her hand
Up to the bed, nor break the manacle
His exile sets upon her harsh command
That he should say the time is beautiful-
Transfigured by her own possessing light:
The sick man craves the impalpable night.

Loosed betwixt eye and lid, the swimming beams
Of memory, blind school of cuttlefish,
Rise to the air, plunge to the cold streams-
Rising and plunging the half-forgotten wish
To tear his heart out in a slow disgrace
And freeze the hue of terror to her face.

Hate, misery, and fear beat off his heart
To the dry fury of the woman’s mind;
The son, prone in his autumn, moves apart
A seed blown upon a returning wind.
O child, be vigilant till towards the south
On the flowered wall all the sweet afternoon,
The reaching sun, swift as the cottonmouth,
Strikes at the black crucifix on her breast
Where the cold dusk comes suddenly to rest-
Mortality will speak the victor soon!

The dreary flies, lazy and casual,
Stick to the ceiling, buzz along the wall.
O heart, the spider shuffles from the mould
Weaving, between the pinks and grapes, his pall.
The bright wallpaper, imperishably old,
Uncurls and flutters, it will never fall.
Allen Tate

9. I’d Choose You Again, Son

I may not be your mother by birth,
But you’re my true son in my heart.
I chose to create this bond with you,
And no one can tear it apart.
I couldn’t love you more even if
I had carried you in my own womb.
My heart’s bursting at the seams with love,
And there simply isn’t any more room.
I bless the woman who gave you life
And let you come to our family.
If I had to do it all over,
I’d choose you again as the son for me.
Kelly Roper

10. Prayers For My Son

My son,
who art from Heaven
I gave you a strong name.
Your kingdom will come
as your work here is done
my own little piece of heaven.
I pray you give me each day
as a gift of love
and forgive me whenever I’m wrong.
Michele Meleen 

11. From Kindergarten to Graduation

I remember the sunshine that morning
When I took your little hand in mine.
Together we walked those few blocks to school
Where you went for the very first time.
I remember the unsure look on your face
As we entered the classroom door.
You tightened your grip on my hand because
You’d never been to school before.
I smiled at you to show it was okay,
And took you to meet your new teacher.
She told you it was going to be a great day,
But I don’t think you really believed her.
I gave you a hug, we said our goodbyes,
And I walked toward the door to leave.
I looked back to see there were tears in your eyes,
And you wiped them away with your sleeve.
I worried the hours away that first day
Wondering how you were getting along.
Were you making friends, did you eat your lunch?
What if something had gone wrong?
The sad boy I left in the classroom
Wasn’t the boy who met me at the school door.
You were grinning as you happily told me
You wouldn’t be afraid of school anymore.
Now I’m here at your college graduation,
Remembering that long-ago day.
You’ve grown from a boy to an educated man,
And I’m prouder of you than I can say.
Kelly Roper

12. Some Advice From A Mother To Her Married Son

The answer to do you love me isn’t, I married you, didn’t I?
Or, Can’t we discuss this after the ballgame is through?
It isn’t, Well that all depends on what you mean by ‘love’.
Or even, Come to bed and I’ll prove that I do.
The answer isn’t, How can I talk about love when
the bacon is burned and the house is an absolute mess and
the children are screaming their heads off and
I’m going to miss my bus?
The answer is yes.
The answer is yes.
The answer is yes
Judith Viorst 

Adorable Poems For Mother From Her Son

Adorable poems for mother from her son
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13. To My Mother

Because I feel that, in the Heavens above,
The angels, whispering to one another,
Can find, among their burning terms of love,
None so devotional as that of “Mother,”
Therefore by that dear name I long have called you—
You who are more than mother unto me,
And fill my heart of hearts, where Death installed you
In setting my Virginia’s spirit free.
My mother—my own mother, who died early,
Was but the mother of myself; but you
Are mother to the one I loved so dearly,
And thus are dearer than the mother I knew
By that infinity with which my wife
Was dearer to my soul than its soul-life.
Edgar Allan Poe

14. My Miracle Mother

Mom, I look at you
and see a walking miracle.
Your unfailing love without limit,
your ability to soothe my every hurt,
the way you are on duty, unselfishly,
every hour, every day,
makes me so grateful
that I am yours, and you are mine.
With open arms and open heart,
with enduring patience and inner strength,
you gave so much for me,
sometimes at your expense.
You are my teacher,
my comforter, my encourager,
appreciating all, forgiving all.
Sometimes I took you for granted, Mom,
but I don’t now, and I never will again.
I know that everything I am today
relates to you and your loving care.
I gaze in wonder
as I watch you being you—
my miracle, my mother.
Joanna Fuchs 

15. Guiding Light Mom

Mom, from the time I was really young,
I realized I had someone…you,
who always cared,
who always protected me,
who was always there for me no matter what.
You taught me right from wrong,
and pushed me to do the right thing,
even when it was hard to do.
You took care of me when I was sick,
and your love helped make me well.
You had rules,
and I learned that when I obeyed them,
my life was simpler, better, richer.
You were and are
the guiding light of my life.
My heart is filled with love for you,
my teacher, my friend, my mother.
Karl and Joanna Fuchs

Tribute To Mother by John Greenleaf Whittier
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16. Tribute To Mother

A picture memory brings to me;
I look across the years and see
Myself beside my mother’s knee.
I feel her gentle hand restrain
My selfish moods, and know again
A child’s blind sense of wrong and pain.
But wiser now,
a man gray grown,
My childhood’s needs are better known.
My mother’s chastening love I own.
John Greenleaf Whittier

17. My Mother

Who fed me from her gentle breast,
And hush’d me in her arms to rest,
And on my cheek sweet kisses prest?
My Mother.
When sleep forsook my open eye,
Who was it sung sweet hushaby,
And rock’d me that I should not cry?
My Mother.
Who sat and watched my infant head
When sleeping on my cradle bed,
And tears of sweet affection shed?
My Mother.
When pain and sickness made me cry,
Who gazed upon my heavy eye,
And wept for fear that I should die?
My Mother.
Who dress’d my doll in clothes so gay,
And taught me pretty how to play.
And minded all I had to say?
My Mother.
Who taught my infant lips to pray
And love God’s holy book and day,
And walk in wisdom’s pleasant way?
My Mother.
And can I ever cease to be
Affectionate and kind to thee,
Who wast so very kind to me,
My Mother?
Ah, no! the thought I cannot bear,
And if God please my life to spare
I hope I shall reward they care,
My Mother.
Who ran to help me when I fell,
And would some pretty story tell,
Or kiss the place to make it well?
My Mother.
When thou art feeble, old and grey,
My healthy arm shall be thy stay,
And I will soothe thy pains away,
My Mother.
And when I see thee hang thy head,
‘Twill be my turn to watch thy bed.
And tears of sweet affection shed,
My Mother.
For could our Father in the skies
Look down with pleased or loving eyes,
If ever I could dare despise
My Mother.
Ann Taylor 

18. Rock Me To Sleep

Backward, turn backward, O Time, in your flight,
Make me a child again just for tonight!
Mother, come back from the echoless shore,
Take me again to your heart as of yore;
Kiss from my forehead the furrows of care,
Smooth the few silver threads out of my hair;
Over my slumbers your loving watch keep;—
Rock me to sleep, mother, – rock me to sleep!
Backward, flow backward, O tide of the years!
I am so weary of toil and of tears,—
Toil without recompense, tears all in vain,—
Take them, and give me my childhood again!
I have grown weary of dust and decay,—
Weary of flinging my soul-wealth away;
Weary of sowing for others to reap;—
Rock me to sleep, mother – rock me to sleep!
Tired of the hollow, the base, the untrue,
Mother, O mother, my heart calls for you!
Many a summer the grass has grown green,
Blossomed and faded, our faces between:
Yet, with strong yearning and passionate pain,
Long I tonight for your presence again.
Come from the silence so long and so deep;—
Rock me to sleep, mother, – rock me to sleep!
Over my heart, in the days that are flown,
No love like mother-love ever has shone;
No other worship abides and endures,—
Faithful, unselfish, and patient like yours:
None like a mother can charm away pain
From the sick soul and the world-weary brain.
Slumber’s soft calms o’er my heavy lids creep;—
Rock me to sleep, mother, – rock me to sleep!
Come, let your brown hair, just lighted with gold,
Fall on your shoulders again as of old;
Let it drop over my forehead tonight,
Shading my faint eyes away from the light;
For with its sunny-edged shadows once more
Haply will throng the sweet visions of yore;
Lovingly, softly, its bright billows sweep;—
Rock me to sleep, mother, – rock me to sleep!
Mother, dear mother, the years have been long
Since I last listened your lullaby song:
Sing, then, and unto my soul it shall seem
Womanhood’s years have been only a dream.
Clasped to your heart in a loving embrace,
With your light lashes just sweeping my face,
Never hereafter to wake or to weep;—
Rock me to sleep, mother, – rock me to sleep!
Elizabeth Akers Allen

19. Wise Mother

You didn’t talk a lot, Mom;
“I love you” was pretty rare,
But when I needed mothering,
You were always there.
I could always count on you, Mom
To do what’s good and right.
I’d see your wisdom and the truth,
So we’d rarely have to fight.
You were strong enough, yet gentle enough
To be the perfect mother;
If I could search the whole wide world,
I wouldn’t pick any other.
Joanna Fuchs

20. Mother, Summer, I

My mother, who hates thunder storms,
Holds up each summer day and shakes
It out suspiciously, lest swarms
Of grape-dark clouds are lurking there;
But when the August weather breaks
And rains begin, and brittle frost
Sharpens the bird-abandoned air,
Her worried summer look is lost,
And I her son, though summer-born
And summer-loving, none the less
Am easier when the leaves are gone
Too often summer days appear
Emblems of perfect happiness
I can’t confront: I must await
A time less bold, less rich, less clear:
An autumn more appropriate.
Philip Larkin

21. Mother O’ Mine

If I were hanged on the highest hill,
Mother o’ mine, O mother o’ mine!
I know whose love would follow me still,
Mother o’ mine, O mother o’ mine!
If I were drowned in the deepest sea,
Mother o’ mine, O mother o’ mine!
I know whose tears would come down to me,
Mother o’ mine, O mother o’ mine!
If I were damned of body and soul,
I know whose prayers would make me whole,
Mother o’ mine, O mother o’ mine!
Rudyard Kipling

22. Sonnets Are Full Of Love

Sonnets are full of love, and this my tome
Has many sonnets: so here now shall be
One sonnet more, a love sonnet, from me
To her whose heart is my heart’s quiet home,
To my first Love, my Mother, on whose knee
I learnt love-lore that is not troublesome;
Whose service is my special dignity,
And she my loadstar while I go and come.
And so because you love me, and because
I love you, Mother, I have woven a wreath
Of rhymes wherewith to crown your honoured name:
In you not fourscore years can dim the flame
Of love, whose blessed glow transcends the laws
Of time and change and mortal life and death.
Christina Rossetti

23. Tribute To Mother

A picture memory brings to me;
I look across the years and see
Myself beside my mother’s knee.
I feel her gentle hand restrain
My selfish moods, and know again
A child’s blind sense of wrong and pain.
But wiser now,
a man gray grown,
My childhood’s needs are better known.
My mother’s chastening love I own.
John Greenleaf Whittier 

24. Super Mom

Mom, you’re a wonderful mother,
So gentle, yet so strong.
The many ways you show you care
Always make me feel I belong.
You’re patient when I’m foolish;
You give guidance when I ask;
It seems you can do most anything;
You’re the master of every task.
You’re a dependable source of comfort;
You’re my cushion when I fall.
You help in times of trouble;
You support me whenever I call.
I love you more than you know;
You have my total respect.
If I had my choice of mothers,
You’d be the one I’d select!
Joanna Fuchs

25. Guiding Light Mom

Mom, from the time I was really young,
I realized I had someone…you,
who always cared,
who always protected me,
who was always there for me no matter what.
You taught me right from wrong,
and pushed me to do the right thing,
even when it was hard to do.
You took care of me when I was sick,
and your love helped make me well.
You had rules,
and I learned that when I obeyed them,
my life was simpler, better, richer.
You were and are
the guiding light of my life.
My heart is filled with love for you,
my teacher, my friend, my mother.
Karl and Joanna Fuchs 

Short Mother And Son Poems

Short mother and son poems
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26. Wonderful Mother

The heart of a home is a mother
Whose love is warm and true,
And home has always been “sweet home”
With a wonderful mother like you!
Anonymous

27. Blessing

There is no blessing
Quite so dear…
As a mom like you
To love year after year.
Anonymous

28. Sunshine

My Mother, my friend so dear,
Throughout my life you’re always near.
A tender smile to guide my way,
You’re the sunshine to light my day.
Anonymous

29. Wishing You A Wonderful Day

Sending this, Mom,
Especially to say
Wishing you a happy
And wonderful day…
And to tell you this day
Will always be one
For remembering the many
Sweet things you have done!
Anonymous

30. Thank You, Mother

Once upon a memory
Someone wiped away a tear
Held me close and loved me,
Thank you, Mother dear.
Anonymous

Infographic: Wholesome Mother-Son Poems

The world is a better place because we have poems! And there is nothing more touching than a bond between a mother and their children. Although all these poems are beautifully written, we have a few short and sweet favorites. These can be incorporated during birthdays and other special events to build memories, or as a simple text message on days when especially miss each other. We have presented them in an infographic below. Have a look and save it for future reference.

wholesome mother son poems (infographic)

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Get the high-quality PDF version of this infographic.

Download Infographic in PDF version

The first bond you create in the world is with your mom, and so it remains one of the most special ones. Unconditional love and devotion are the defining traits of this relationship. Words can indeed fall short when you want to express all these deep and pure feelings to your mother. Therefore, your best bet to show your gratitude and appreciation would be to go for the most sophisticated tool that language has to offer — poems. The mother-son poems listed above describe the nature of this relationship and the joy it brings to them.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the moral lesson of the poem Mother to Son?

The poem Mother to Son demonstrates that with strong will and determination, you can achieve anything, irrespective of how hard the path is. Also, it is a good lesson for people who get scared of doing things because of hardships in life.

What is the metaphor in Mother to Son?

In the poem Mother to Son, the author compares a mother’s hard life to a worn-out staircase.

Why is a mother-son relationship so special?

Sons are seen to be more attached to their mothers. Right from their childhood, the mother plays a key role in their parenting and emotional development. In addition, men feel like they do not need to act tough to express their feelings and emotions in front of their mothers.

How do mothers influence their sons?

Mothers influence their sons in a lot of ways. They are the nurturing forces in their kids’ lives. Sons share a special bond with their bond, and it helps them to become emotionally intelligent, have control over their behavior, learn how to treat other women, and express their feelings.

How can a mother-son poem benefit the relationship?

Mother-son poems can help convey deep emotions for each other, which is often not possible through any other form of written text. Poetry is a form of self-expression that helps to describe the love and respect a mother and son share for each other. The poems may inspire and move your heart and make you appreciate your relationship even better.

Key Takeaways

  • The bond between a mother and son is unexplainable. Mother-son poems can help celebrate the unconditional love between the two.
  • These poems have various themes, such as unwavering maternal love, difficulties faced by a mother, a mother’s depth of love, the power of bonding between a mother and son, etc.
  • These poems can be a great addition to a birthday wish or note of gratitude.
mother son poems

Image: Stable Diffusion/StyleCraze Design Team


Listen to this timeless poem, “Mother to Son,” in this video and get inspired by the powerful message of hope and resilience.
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