“Verbs are the heartbeat of language. They move us from thought to action, from stillness to momentum.” — Unknown
My Mother
My mother
is a verb
Past tense:
as a light-sleeping child,
I saw Mom
completing daytime tasks
untouched
she moved through rooms
uncluttered by adverbs,
sewing, ironing, folding
freshly-washed laundry
while midnight shows hummed
to keep her company
Continuous form:
stitching and pressing,
hustling,
silently conjugating,
ordering love
through action
Perfect tense:
I have never seen her sleep,
have only seen her shadow moving,
she has folded time with tired hands,
has smoothed our morning tangles,
and I have wondered, truly wondered,
if she has ever truly rested
Learning Through Language
Writing about grammar rules might not sound like a thrill ride, but it can actually be a surprisingly powerful way to internalize those tricky parts of speech. When you craft a poem that mirrors grammatical structures, like My Mother, which is organized around Past tense, Continuous form, and Perfect tense, you are not just writing a tribute. You are diving deep into the mechanics of language.
Research backs this up. Studies from Edutopia suggest that exploring grammar through creative writing helps solidify understanding far better than rote memorization. When you are forced to think about what a verb does and how tenses work, it sticks. It is like sneaking spinach into your favorite lasagna. Good for you, but you hardly notice.
And it does not stop at structure. According to the Center for the Professional Education of Teachers at Columbia University, integrating grammar into writing practice makes it more meaningful and memorable. Writing about my mother as a verb was not just reflecting on her life. It was building a kind of linguistic rhythm that mimicked her constant motion.
So why not try it?
Next time you want to brush up on your grammar, consider writing a poem. Conjugate your memories. Order your love through action. You might find that grammar is not just a set of rules. It is a way to understand the movements and moments that matter.
“In the garden of language, verbs are what make things grow.”
