What is an Acrostic Poem?
Most of us have written acrostic poems in the past. Most likely, it was when we were in grade school. You've probably not only seen an acrostic poem, you may have even heard one! If you've ever heard the song M-O-T-H-E-R (The Word That Means The World To Me), that's what I'm talking about. The original lyrics were written in 1915 and was a World War I era song of appreciation for Mothers. It was written by American Navy-veteran and song-writer Howard E. Johnson (1887–1941).
It was set to a tune, which composed for the text, by American musician and popular-music composer Theodore F. Morse (1873–1924).
Canadian-born popular singer and entrepreneur Henry Burr (born Harry McClaskey) made the first recording of the song. A performance by Eva Tanguay, (1878-1947) drove sales of sheet music which was first released in 1915 by Leo Feist Inc of New York, USA. The chorus is considered an acrostic.
Many people only sing the chorus (which is the acrostic portion of the song), but the original song also has two verses.
M-O-T-H-E-R (The Word That Means The World To Me)
Verse 1
I've been around the world, you bet,
but never went to school.
Hard knocks are all I seem to get, perhaps I've been a fool.
But still, some educated folks, supposed to be so swell
Would fail, if they were called upon a simple word to spell
Now if you'd like to put me to a test
There's one dear name that I can spell the best:
Chorus:
"M" is for the million things she gave me
"O" means only that she's growing old
"T" is for the tears were shed to save me
"H" is for her heart of purest gold
"E" is for her eyes, with lovelight shining
"R" means right, and right she'll always be.
Put them all together, they spell "MOTHER",
A word that means the world to me.
Verse 2
When I was but a baby, long before I learned to walk,
While lying in my cradle, I would try my best to talk.
It wasn't long, before I spoke, and all the neighbors hear't
My folks were very proud of me for "Mother" was the word.
Although I'll never lay a claim to fame,
I'm satisfied that I can spell this name.
M Is for the Many things she gave me,
O Means only that she’s growing Old.
T Is for the Tears she shed to save me,
H Is for her Heart of purest gold.
E Is for her Eyes with love light shining,
R Means Right and Right she’ll always be.
Put them all together, They spell MOTHER.
A word that means the world to me.
Famous renditions of this beloved song include:
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