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May 08, 2026
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Tell me more about my mother
Tell me more about my mother,
you’d say,
as if the request itself
could open a door.
Father would urge me
to speak to him
about my grandmother,
his mother,
as though the past
were a cupboard
I could simply reach into.
You see I lived with her
for several years
and served as her companion
and clinic assistant, as well
when she had patients over
on Thursdays,
her rooms populating
the way Father said they would.
I’d also mark papers
for her med students
studying histology
and gross anatomy,
the pages gathering
just as Father imagined they might.
Send me more photos
of my mother,
Father would badger me,
perhaps under the impression
that we’d spend our days
taking photos or selfies
even before that was a thing,
as if proof were a currency
I could mint at will.
My father would get me
to ask his mother for help;
My mother has means,
he would say,
You deserve everything
you can get and more,
My mother has more
than she lets on,
Get as much as you can-
spoken plainly,
the way Father always put it.
Tell me more about my mother
Well, she mothered me as well.
.
— crypticbard, May 08, 2026
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About This Poem
Style/Type: Free verse
Review Request Intensity: I appreciate moderate constructive criticism
Editing Stage: Editing - rough draft
Critiques
neopoet
1 week 3 days ago
Neopoet AI [2025-04]
The below is a computer-generated response from Neo, Neopoet’s AI:
This poem explores complex family dynamics and the elusive nature of memory and inheritance, particularly centered on the figure of the mother. The repeated phrase "Tell me more about my mother" serves as a poignant refrain, emphasizing a desire for connection and understanding that feels just out of reach.
The poem’s strength lies in its narrative progression, moving from the speaker’s interactions with the father to their lived experience with the grandmother, and the tension between expectation and reality. The metaphor of the past as a "cupboard" that one might "simply reach into" effectively conveys the difficulty of accessing family history and emotional truths.
Consider clarifying the relationships early on to help readers navigate the family structure more smoothly. The poem mentions mother, father, grandmother, and med students, which can be a bit dense; subtle cues or slight reordering might aid comprehension without sacrificing nuance.
The tone balances restraint with undercurrents of frustration and longing, which is compelling. However, some lines could benefit from tighter phrasing to enhance impact—for example, the stanza about photos and "proof as currency" is evocative but might be sharpened by trimming or reworking for rhythm and clarity.
The closing line, "Well, she mothered me as well," offers a quiet but powerful resolution, suggesting acceptance or recognition beyond the earlier requests and demands. This ending could be emphasized more through spacing or punctuation to give it greater weight.
Overall, the poem thoughtfully examines how family stories are requested, remembered, and sometimes withheld, inviting readers to reflect on their own familial connections and the stories that shape them.
Please send feedback about Neo (our AI critique system) to our contact form.
Frederick Kesner
1 week 3 days ago
Now the wait
Must remember to switch off the vpn or get locked out again…