Tag: life lessons

A Beautiful Soul

A Poem Dedicated to My Dear Friend

A Beautiful Soul

To A Soul Everlasting
She continues in her now shrinking body
but her spirit becomes bigger and bolder every day;
the light of her being becomes more steady;
not the flickering light of yesterday…

Her mind almost newly formed
with increased sensibility to all of nature
and to others faults she sees beyond
forgiving them for any wrongs…
healing wounds
in the waters of an eternal spring
which in her divine grace she has found.

She perceives beauty that those
around her do not see…
blind as others may be
her vision becomes more acute;
where those attribute insignificance,
she discerns meaning and worth.

Her soul forever reaching
toward the destiny that it seeks
transcends the Earth’s tallest peak…
for there is no limit,
no boundaries that
to an intrepid soul can inhibit…

Among earthbound shadows
the light within her continues to burn…
her soul now free to soar,
to a place where only the purest souls can inhabit;
a place of higher vision and truth
where we meet our Creator-
and return once more…

Where the sweetest music can be heard
and the sacred words
of a poet as fitting tribute to a radiant flower…
before finding its resting place
in the garden of paradise.

~ Lora Hollings

Listen To A Beautiful Soul: The Song

Inspire Us to Be More
Even though the passing of our loved ones from this earth to a spiritual realm can be emotionally traumatic for us, as their life takes on a different type of an existence, our cherished memories of them can serve to inspire us to do more with our lives to make the world a more loving place and dedicate our good work to them.

Many feel that a loving spirit has intervened on their behalf to keep them safe from harm or in guiding them on a path in life that is good for them.


My Angel Gabriel by Lamb
I’ve chosen this song because I feel its words reflect the legacy my beautiful friend left on this earth and how the cherished memories that I have of her give me the courage to face my fears, to deal with adversity, have faith in myself to accomplish the goals that I’ve set for myself, and extend a helping hand to those in need as she was such a giving person so full of love.

Lyrics to the Song “Gabriel” by Lamb

“Gabriel”
I can fly
But I want his wings
I can shine even in the darkness
But I crave the light that he brings
3/6Revel in the songs that he sings
My angel Gabriel
I can love
But I need his heart
I am strong even on my own
But from him I never want to part
He’s been there since the very start
My angel Gabriel
My angel Gabriel
Bless the day he came to be
Angel’s wings carried him to me
Heavenly
I can fly
But I want his wings
I can shine even in the darkness
But I crave the light that he brings
Revel in the songs that he sings
My angel Gabriel
My angel Gabriel
My angel Gabriel
My angel Gabriel
My angel Gabriel
My angel Gabriel
My angel, my angel, my angel
Gabriel, Gabriel

Insights from this poem

Lora Hollings’ poem, “A Beautiful Soul,” explores the profound spiritual evolution of a woman as she nears the end of her earthly life. While her physical body declines, her inner spirit expands, granting her a heightened perception of beauty and a newfound capacity for unconditional forgiveness. The text suggests that this transcendent journey allows the individual to see beyond mundane insignificance to find divine meaning in the world. Ultimately, the work illustrates a soul’s liberation from physical boundaries as it ascends toward a heavenly paradise to reunite with its Creator. Readers are encouraged to view aging and mortality not as a loss, but as a radiant transition toward eternal peace and truth.

A Ladybug of Culture

Collection: Ladybug Poems

There was a little ladybug
who was quite a sophisticate
many she would educate
on topics in the news,
whene’er she expressed her views.

She had a great knowledge of opera,
could classify all species of Lepidoptera.
In figuring out chess moves she proved astute
and loved to play Debussy on the flute.

In her polka dotted suit
with decorative hat she looked quite cute,
as she debated most eloquently
on a point considered moot.

She could speak many different languages,
could do elegant flower arrangements,
bought china in a fancy boutique—
selecting only those pieces that were most unique.

She could create wonderful culinary delights,
her rose garden was truly a magnificent sight;
she loved to write poetic verse,
and on the meaning of many she loved to converse.

On essays by Milton she would often expound,
knew all about gravity, light waves, and sound…
not only knowledgeable was she in physics
but even the spiritual realm of mystics!

This little bug who was so erudite
would sit in her garden with her bonnet
and write a most charming sonnet-
that even Shakespeare would have found to his delight.

She was versed in astronomy
and Ptolemy-
zoology, entomology,
even anthropology.

She would wax philosophically
on many subjects,
from the plays of Sophocles
to the formula of a triangle, isosceles.

The epitome of social grace,
she would use only doilies made out of lace;
adhering strictly to the rules of Emily Post,
she was regarded as the perfect host.

She was a wordsmith the likes
you have never seen-
could define syllogism, colloquialism
and every “ism”
in between,
even ventriloquism.

There wasn’t much that she didn’t know,
with dexterity she could even sew.
So many things this little lady could do…
even make a wonderful veggie gumbo with roux.

Indeed this little lady
was so refine
that only on vegetables
would she dine.

I wish I knew
where’er she went;
I often wondered
from where she was sent.

This little bug so fair
was last seen with gilded wing
just floating in air;
yes, truly sublime,
she was so… extraordinaire

~ Lora Hollings

Listen To A Ladybug of Culture: The Song

Inspiring Poems About Mothers

Maternal Admiration

The Gifts You’ve Given to Me

You gave me love when I first drew breath…
You nourished my body and soul.
You gave me the gift to believe in myself,
helping me become the unique person I am.

You gave me an understanding of the value of life…
a desire to share my special talents with others
and to love others with the love you
so generously bestowed on me…
and I will leave this world a better place
for having made a difference.

~ Lora Hollings

Favorite Mother’s Day Quotes

“Mother is the one we count on for the things that matter most of all.”
— Katherine Butler Hathaway

“The strength of motherhood is greater than natural laws.”
— Barbara Kingsolver

“Children and mothers never truly part—
bound in the beating of each other’s heart.”
— Charlotte Gray

“The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness.”
— Honoré de Balzac

“When I stopped seeing my mother with the eyes of a child, I saw the woman who helped me give birth to myself.”
— Nancy Friday

“Mothers are instinctive philosophers.”
— Harriet Beecher Stowe

“God could not be everywhere, and therefore he made mothers.”
— Jewish Proverb

“Mothers hold their children’s hands for a short while, but their hearts forever.”
— Author Unknown

“If I had a single flower for every time I think about you, I could walk forever in my garden.” ~Claudia Ghandi

Always Looking Up to You

I remember when I was a little girl,
I would try on your shoes,
but they wouldn’t fit…
always too big,
yet I loved to walk in them anyway—
always wanting to be just like you.

I would see the lipstick and powder on your dresser,
the pearl necklace and earrings—
the finishing touch
so I could play grown-up.

With my doll, I pretended she was me
so I could be you—
tending her needs,
singing her a lullaby beneath the stars,
holding her close
just as you held me before sleep.

As I grew older, admiration deepened—
your knowledge, your love of books,
your ability to explain the world
from the smallest life to the vast cosmos.

Now grown, I still try to fit your shoes—
to act on my beliefs,
to stand for the oppressed,
to care for those without a voice.
Your light still shines,
and I am always looking up to you.

~ Lora Hollings

A Mother’s Day poem –
A Rose for You, Mother

A Rose for You, Mother

I remember when I was a little girl
if I had my feelings hurt,
you gave me a rose
and said,
“this rose is a symbol for all the
love I have for you…
and for your family who loves you too.”

I remember when I lost a music contest,
you gave me a rose
and said,
“this is for all your effort
and the next time you’ll do better.
Look at this lovely rose…
remember, it took awhile before it became
such a beautiful flower.”

If I brought a report card home
that was a disappointment to me…
you said,
“The enjoyment of learning
is far more important
as it will help improve your grades,
and has greater impact in determining
what you can do…
learning doesn’t just end with school.

Think of this rose
to remind you that
life has its ups and downs…
and you will have your days
when sunshine abounds.”

As a symbol of the magic
of your love and the wisdom
you gave me to fulfill my dreams,
I now present this rose to you
on Mother’s Day
as a beloved token of these memories
that I will always cherish,
and of the love I’ll always have for you.

~ Lora Hollings

A Mother Aids a Traveler on a Journey

A mother is like an angel
gifted with extraordinary powers
coming to the aid
of a traveler on a sometimes
perilous path.

As she comes to the rescue
of a little one overwhelmed
by stormy waters…
she arrives on fleet foot
to lift him out of danger
and to give another breath of
life, of hope…
a feeling that all is well again.

Her light carries far over the distance
like a luminous star,
in darkness aiding
travelers worn and weary…
stricken with loneliness or despair,
mitigating hardship
as it nourishes the spirit
and strengthens the belief
that they can make it at last…
to their destiny.

~ Lora Hollings

Because You Loved Me,
Celine Dion (with Lyrics) –
Dedication to Mothers

Insights About These Poems

These poems collectively offer a deeply layered meditation on motherhood as both a nurturing force and a moral compass. Rather than portraying mothers as idealized figures removed from reality, Lora Hollings presents them as guides whose everyday actions quietly shape a child’s character, resilience, and sense of purpose.

In The Gifts You’ve Given to Me, motherhood is shown as the original source of self-worth and compassion. The poem emphasizes that a mother’s greatest gift is not protection from the world, but preparation for it—instilling confidence, empathy, and a desire to contribute meaningfully to others.

Always Looking Up to You explores the evolution of admiration across a lifetime. Childhood imitation—trying on shoes, playing grown-up—gradually transforms into moral emulation. The mother becomes a model not only of care, but of intellectual curiosity, social responsibility, and courage. The poem beautifully captures how children internalize a parent’s values long after childhood ends.

A Rose for You, Mother uses the rose as a recurring symbol of encouragement and perspective. Through moments of disappointment and self-doubt, the mother reframes failure as growth, teaching patience, perseverance, and joy in learning. The rose becomes a quiet reminder that beauty often takes time.

Finally, A Mother Aids a Traveler on a Journey elevates motherhood into a universal metaphor. The mother is a guiding light—appearing in moments of crisis, restoring hope, and helping others find their way forward.

Together, these poems affirm that a mother’s love is both tender and transformative, shaping lives not through grandeur, but through steady presence, wisdom, and unwavering belief.

Table of contents