What a Mother Will Do

In the poem "Momma," Chrystal Meeker renders a quick look into the poverty-stricken life of a single mother and her children. In this poem, the youngest daughter reflects on how their selfless mother makes her children the priority in her life, and with determination provides alternatives in order for them to have what they need.

The poem introduces an underprivileged family living in a small rundown abode with no yard for the children to play. The mention of the [cracking counter] (21) implies the inside is deteriorating but serves its purpose. The tensions from the living arrangements, along with the stresses from a single mother raising children, present many hurdles to overcome. The anguish from all the stresses in their lives appears to be in high fashion as it is very clear Kayla (the oldest daughter) and her mother are always at each other's throat, butting heads about something. "They clawed their womanhoods out of each other / by handfuls of hair and heart" (3-4), shows that most likely the stresses from their living situation has added so much unneeded pressure to this family; Kayla and her mother say things one or both will later regret. The speaker mentions "Battle-weary and scarred as they were, / a sameness spurred them on toward empathy" (5-6). This alludes they will argue until they cannot argue any longer but their unpronounced attitudes and behaviors will draw them closer together.

Kayla is not aware what the mother is sacrificing for the family in order to possess the things they have. The mother slaves in the kitchen preparing dinner for Kayla and washing dishes while carrying the baby at the same time. Kayla sits down to eat but when she asks the mother to eat with her "it made Kayla afraid to ask what she'd done / if Momma wouldn't even sit with her to eat" (12-13). Kayla feels as if she really has done something wrong when truly there just is not enough food to go around. The mother makes sure her child is full before she considers taking the first bite.

Since the children have no yard to play in of their own, they are "sent down to the parking lot of the Masonic Lodge / to pass the football" (15-16). After the children are outside and the baby is resting, the mother "began to lick the crumbs" (19) from her sister's plate. When Kayla returns from playing to witness this behavior, she is crushed with guilt when "Momma quietly