MY 81-YEAR-OLD MOM inspires me.
She inspires me to live my life with the same positive outlook, grateful heart and kindness she’s exuded her entire life.
And she inspires my poetry. In recent poetry writing endeavors (click here and here), she has been the subject of my poems. This surprises her.
When I informed Mom that my poem, “The Farmer’s Wife, Circa 1960,” had been selected for inclusion in Poetic Strokes 2014, a regional poetry anthology published by Southeastern Libraries Cooperating, she responded with a humbleness that truly reflects her character.
“I didn’t know I led such an interesting life,” Mom said.
To most, she likely hasn’t. She grew up on the southwestern Minnesota prairie, attended Mankato Business College after high school, then worked at a government office in Marshall until marrying my father shortly thereafter and settling onto a farm near Vesta.
My parents, Elvern and Arlene Kletscher, holding my older brother, Doug, and me in this January 1957 photo. Rare are the photos of my farm wife mother.
There she assumed the role of farm wife, the title given rural women long before stay-at-home mom became a buzzword. She no longer lives on the farm, having moved into my paternal grandmother’s home in Vesta decades ago.
As an adult, I now understand that her life as a farm wife was not particularly easy—raising six children on a limited income; doing laundry with a Maytag wringer washer; tending a garden and then canning and freezing the produce; doing without an indoor bathroom…
I sometimes wonder how her life would have unfolded
had she not locked eyes with my father on the dance floor…
–Lines one and two from “The Farmer’s Wife, Circa 1960”
Although I’ve never asked, I expect she dreamed of time just for herself. On rare occasions she and my dad would go out on a Saturday evening.
With those thoughts, I penned “The Farmer’s Wife, Circa 1960.” As much as I’d like to share that poem with you here, today, I cannot. That debut honor goes to Poetic Strokes, a copy of which will be gifted from me to my mom, the woman who has led an extraordinary life. Not extraordinary in the sense of great worldly accomplishments, but rather in the way she has treated others with kindness, compassion and love. Her depth of love for family, her faith and her empathy and compassion have served as guiding principles in my life.
I am proud to be the daughter of a farmer’s wife.
The cover of Poetic Strokes/Word Flow. Image courtesy of SELCO.
I AM HONORED, for the sixth time, to have my poetry published in Poetic Strokes, a Library Legacy funded project (through Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund) that promotes poetry in southeastern Minnesota and specifically in SELCO libraries. Each library will have a copy available for check out near the end of March or in early April, National Poetry Month.
This year my county of Rice joins Winona County with the highest number of poets, six from each county, included in the Poetic Strokes section of the anthology. I am the sole Faribault poet with five from nearby Northfield.
Twenty-three poems from 21 poets in five of SELCO’s 11 counties will be published in Poetic Strokes 2014.
There were 196 poems submitted by 112 poets. Two published poets with PhDs in English literature and a third poet who is a former English teacher, fiction writer and contributor to the League of Minnesota Poets judged the entries.
Says SELCO Regional Librarian Reagen A. Thalacker of the judging process:
The general sense I received when the poems came back is that our judges felt that there was a great variety in subject matter and skill and that they were impressed with many of those that were submitted. There was also the overwhelming sense of having enjoyed thoroughly the opportunity to read the works submitted.
Additionally, the anthology includes 28 poems penned by youth ages 14 – 18 (or in high school) residing within SELCO counties. Twenty-eight poems chosen from 111 submissions will be featured. What an encouragement to young poets to be published in the Word Flow portion of this project.
For me, a seasoned poet, selection of “The Farmer’s Wife, Circa 1960” encourages me to keep writing in a rural voice distinctly mine, inspired by the land and the people I love.
© Copyright 2014 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
How wonderful. Your work is always so deeply grounded and accessible to the reader. You put us in the seat next to you.. Lovely. You look a bit like your mum.She loved her babies by the look of her.. c
Thank you, Cecilia. That is my aim, to connect with my readers, just as you do.
I’m glad you commented on my mom’s love for us. I see it in the way her hands/arms are crossed in front of me in a show of protection and love. I believe this is the only photo I have of my mom holding me as a baby/child. She was always the one behind the camera and few photos were actually taken given the cost of film and printing.
Also the way she has you in her lap looks deeply comfortable. As though you were an extension of herself in a complete and ordinary way. Plonked into her lap, up against her belly. No pretense.. and distracted (probably by some pot on the stove or another child) ..safe.
You say it so well. This photo was actually taken at my maternal grandfather’s home, so no distractions for Mom. That would also explain why she and Dad are dressed in their Sunday best, although I don’t know the occasion.
I can just hear your Mom say she didn’t know she lived such an interesting life! I remembering looking at that pic of your folks , you and Doug many times Love the memories!! Can’t wait to read your poem!
You know my dear mom well, don’t you, Bev? Once the poem is published, I will share it here. That should be in about one month.
So lovely!!! That photo is marvelous and I can see the family resemblance so strongly in all you gals!!!!!!! CanNOT wait for the printing!!!!! Hugs and congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you, Doreen. I promise to post the poem here once it’s published.
I always find it interesting to hear about those family resemblances. Tough to see when you’re viewing yourself and your family.
That is a true statement!!!!
What a wonderful tribute to your mother in the blog posting! Congratulations to have your work incuded in this anthology.
Thank you, Sue.
Everyone who knows/meets my mom loves her. She has been telling me recently how, each day, she thinks of one kind thing that is done for her. It’s never difficult. The kindness can be as simple as a stranger helping her reach merchandise on a high shelf at the store or a neighbor picking up her mail or my Aunt Jeanette driving her to the doctor’s office. My mom is surrounded by family and friends in my hometown who look after her and for that I am grateful, especially since I live 120 miles away.
Congrats on yet another well deserved honor! What a lovely tribute to your mom and to all farmer’s wives everywhere. Love the picture. I am sure it is a treasured one. Can’t wait to read this one when it has debuted!!!! Congrats again, my friend.
Thank you, Beth Ann. The poem will be forthcoming once published.
That photo is treasured for sure as I believe it’s the only one I have of my mom holding me, at any age. Few were the photos taken given the cost.
I can not wait to read this poem, something tells me I’m gonna love it. Congrats on being selected, such an honor for you Audrey. How long do we have to wait????? I’m sure in your mom’s humble little heart, she is beaming with pride 🙂 It’s so great that you get to share this poem with her!
The anthology should be out by the end of March.
And thanks, as always, for your enthusiastic support of my writing, Jackie.
Congratulations on a well-deserved achievement. You have rekindled my interest in poetry. The world is a better place because of your distinct rural voice and the inspiration you draw from the land and people you love.
Thank you, Dan.
I see poetry in your photos. Have you ever written poetry, in words, I mean?
I used to a long time ago. I moved on to painting. Then I landed with photography.
You are an artist of multiple talents.
Audrey, this is a wonderful post. Congratulations on the anthology piece and on recognizing that ordinary lives are extraordinary in their details.
You totally “get it,” Kathleen. Thank you. It’s all about the details in writing poetry, isn’t it? Oh, and also the emotional and personal connection. I can’t wait to share this poem here. But I must wait until it publishes.
Congrats.
Thanks, Clyde. If you get a chance, check out “The Image and the Word” exhibit at the Emmy Frentz Gallery in Mankato. Several of my poems are posted there in this exhibit which features poetry inspired by photos. The reception was last evening. I missed it, though, because I didn’t feel like driving the 45 minutes to Mankato and back on such a frigid evening. Sigh.
How Exciting – Way to Go – Congrats – Time to Celebrate!!! I found my grandparent’s farm pretty interesting at a young age and was excited to grow up on a hobby farm in my teenage years. The exploring and adventuring I did on those many acres growing up – so much FUN! Happy Weekend:)
Thank you, Renee. A farm was a great place to grow up, especially on the southwestern Minnesota prairie.
A GREAT Experience – loved the baby animals best:) I can pretty much fix anything, have a good work ethic and some people are a little scared of the equipment I know how to use – ha!
That’s a farm girl for you!
That’s so lovely of you to honour your mother in that way. I’d say she must have had a fairly difficult life especially with no internal bathroom – how do you survive in the winter? I’ve seen those washing machines and they work well but they require a lot of effort. It’s amazing how much more convenient our lives are but we still find plenty to whine about. Lovely post, Audrey and congrats on doing so well with your poetry xx
Thank you, Charlie.
In the winter, we had a pot on the porch, literally a pot with a lid so that we did not have to venture to the outhouse. Of course, one of my parents had to empty that pot into the outhouse.
When I was about 12 or so, my parents, with the help of many relatives and a local carpenter, built a new house. It was a blessing to have an indoor bathroom and three bedrooms for the eight of us.
Oh yes, growing up on a farm, espically with no bathroom is something else. For me it was a treat to move to Minneapolis where of course we had that bathroom. Shared by four or five girls. But a great thing for me. Life has so many changes and of course our children must find things different too.
Can’t wait to see the writings on your mom, MY SISTER!!!!
You’ll have to wait until Poetic Strokes 2014 publishes, Aunt Dorothy.
You are a special part of my rural memories.
Congratulations on such a wonderful achievement. I so enjoy your posts as you make them so personable. I’m anxious as the rest, to read your
poem. Both your Mom and Dad look so at ease in the photo while your brother appears to be squirming,..lol!
Thank you so much. I promise. I will publish the poem.
I’m not surprised that my brother appears to be squirming.
Congratulations, Audrey!
Thank you, dear sister-in-law.
Congratulations! How lovely for you. And for your dear mother!
Thank you. It’s always rewarding to have one’s work accepted into an anthology.