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I'll Always Be Your Daughter: A Fable for Mothers & Daughters
A celebration of the love between mothers and daughters. This fable of two trees beautifully chronicles a daughter’s journey to adulthood and the everchanging, complex, and powerfully loving relationship between a mother and daughter.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2010
About the author
Carol Lynn Pearson
102 books128 followersFrom http://www.clpearson.com/about_me.htm
In fourth grade, in Gusher, Utah, I won four dollars in a school district essay contest on “Why We Should Eat a Better Breakfast.” And yes, this morning I had a bowl of my own excellent granola, followed by a hike in the hills near my home in Walnut Creek, California.
In high school I began writing in earnest. I have now in my files a folder marked “Poetry, Very Bad,” and another, “Poetry, Not Quite So Bad.” Writing served a good purpose for that very dramatic, insecure adolescent. Also at that time I began to keep a diary, which I still maintain and which has been indescribably useful to me both as a writer and as a pilgrim on the earth.
After graduating from Brigham Young University with an MA in theatre, teaching for a year in Utah at Snow College, and traveling for a year, I taught part-time at BYU in the English department and was then hired by the motion picture studio on campus to write educational and religious screenplays.
While performing at the university as Mrs. Antrobus in Thornton Wilder’s “The Skin of Our Teeth,” I met and fell in love with Gerald Pearson, a shining, blond, enthusiastic young man, who fell in love with me and my poems.
“We’ve got to get them published,” he said on our honeymoon, and soon dragged me up to the big city, Salt Lake City, to see who would be first in line to publish them. “Poetry doesn’t sell,” insisted everyone we spoke to, and I, somewhat relieved, put publishing on the list of things to do posthumously.
But not Gerald. “Then I’ll publish them,” he said. Borrowing two thousand dollars, he created a company called “Trilogy Arts” and published two thousand copies of a book called Beginnings, a slim, hard-back volume with a white cover that featured a stunning illustration, “God in Embryo,” by our good friend Trevor Southey, now an internationally known artist. On the day in autumn of 1967 that Gerald delivered the books by truck to our little apartment in Provo, I was terrified. I really had wanted to do this posthumously.
Beginnings
Today
You came running
With a small specked egg
Warm in your hand.
You could barely understand,
I know,
As I told you of Beginnings–
Of egg and bird.
Told, too,
That years ago you began,
Smaller than sight.
And then,
As egg yearns for sky
And seed stretches to tree,
You became–
Like me.
Oh,
But there’s so much more.
You and I, child,
Have just begun.
Think:
Worlds from now
What might we be?–
We, who are seed
Of Deity.
We toted a package of books up to the BYU bookstore, and asked to see the book buyer. “Well,” she said, “nobody ever buys poetry, but since you’re a local person, let me take four on consignment.” As they came in packages of twenty, we persuaded her to take twenty--on consignment. Next day she called and asked, “Those books you brought up here. Do you have any more of them?”
I had anticipated that the two thousand books, now stacked in our little closet and under our bed and in my Daddy’s garage, would last us years and years as wedding presents. But immediately we ordered a second printing. Beginnings sold over 150,000 copies before we gave it to Doubleday and then to Bookcraft.
Beginnings was followed by other volumes of poetry: The Search, The Growing Season, A Widening View, I Can’t Stop Smiling, and Women I Have Known and Been. Most of the poems from the earlier books now appear in a compilation, Beginnings and Beyond. The poems have been widely reprinted in such places as Ann Landers’ column, the second volume of Chicken Soup for the Soul, and college textbooks such as Houghton Mifflin’s Structure and Meaning: an Introduction to Literature. That first little volume of verse, and my husband’s determination, laid the foundation for my entire career.
Another characteristic of my husband was to have a profound effect on both
In fourth grade, in Gusher, Utah, I won four dollars in a school district essay contest on “Why We Should Eat a Better Breakfast.” And yes, this morning I had a bowl of my own excellent granola, followed by a hike in the hills near my home in Walnut Creek, California.
In high school I began writing in earnest. I have now in my files a folder marked “Poetry, Very Bad,” and another, “Poetry, Not Quite So Bad.” Writing served a good purpose for that very dramatic, insecure adolescent. Also at that time I began to keep a diary, which I still maintain and which has been indescribably useful to me both as a writer and as a pilgrim on the earth.
After graduating from Brigham Young University with an MA in theatre, teaching for a year in Utah at Snow College, and traveling for a year, I taught part-time at BYU in the English department and was then hired by the motion picture studio on campus to write educational and religious screenplays.
While performing at the university as Mrs. Antrobus in Thornton Wilder’s “The Skin of Our Teeth,” I met and fell in love with Gerald Pearson, a shining, blond, enthusiastic young man, who fell in love with me and my poems.
“We’ve got to get them published,” he said on our honeymoon, and soon dragged me up to the big city, Salt Lake City, to see who would be first in line to publish them. “Poetry doesn’t sell,” insisted everyone we spoke to, and I, somewhat relieved, put publishing on the list of things to do posthumously.
But not Gerald. “Then I’ll publish them,” he said. Borrowing two thousand dollars, he created a company called “Trilogy Arts” and published two thousand copies of a book called Beginnings, a slim, hard-back volume with a white cover that featured a stunning illustration, “God in Embryo,” by our good friend Trevor Southey, now an internationally known artist. On the day in autumn of 1967 that Gerald delivered the books by truck to our little apartment in Provo, I was terrified. I really had wanted to do this posthumously.
Beginnings
Today
You came running
With a small specked egg
Warm in your hand.
You could barely understand,
I know,
As I told you of Beginnings–
Of egg and bird.
Told, too,
That years ago you began,
Smaller than sight.
And then,
As egg yearns for sky
And seed stretches to tree,
You became–
Like me.
Oh,
But there’s so much more.
You and I, child,
Have just begun.
Think:
Worlds from now
What might we be?–
We, who are seed
Of Deity.
We toted a package of books up to the BYU bookstore, and asked to see the book buyer. “Well,” she said, “nobody ever buys poetry, but since you’re a local person, let me take four on consignment.” As they came in packages of twenty, we persuaded her to take twenty--on consignment. Next day she called and asked, “Those books you brought up here. Do you have any more of them?”
I had anticipated that the two thousand books, now stacked in our little closet and under our bed and in my Daddy’s garage, would last us years and years as wedding presents. But immediately we ordered a second printing. Beginnings sold over 150,000 copies before we gave it to Doubleday and then to Bookcraft.
Beginnings was followed by other volumes of poetry: The Search, The Growing Season, A Widening View, I Can’t Stop Smiling, and Women I Have Known and Been. Most of the poems from the earlier books now appear in a compilation, Beginnings and Beyond. The poems have been widely reprinted in such places as Ann Landers’ column, the second volume of Chicken Soup for the Soul, and college textbooks such as Houghton Mifflin’s Structure and Meaning: an Introduction to Literature. That first little volume of verse, and my husband’s determination, laid the foundation for my entire career.
Another characteristic of my husband was to have a profound effect on both
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 18, 2018
“Oh, you are hurt!” said the Mother sadly. “How can I bear to see you in pain? If I cannot protect you from the wind, will you still be my Daughter?”
“This is good,” answered the Daughter. “The broken places tell me I am alive, and now I feel. Some growth has been pruned, but new growth is coming. And, yes, Mother, even though you cannot protect me from the wind, I will still be your Daughter.”
This is such a sweet little book!
5/5 stars!
“This is good,” answered the Daughter. “The broken places tell me I am alive, and now I feel. Some growth has been pruned, but new growth is coming. And, yes, Mother, even though you cannot protect me from the wind, I will still be your Daughter.”
This is such a sweet little book!
5/5 stars!
September 23, 2010
Carol Lynn Pearson has created some beautiful gift books. If you are looking for a gift for a spouse, a friend, your mother/daughter or someone who is struggling with a trial look no further. These elegant gift books are the perfect answer. Each book has a touching message to share with someone you love.
A beautiful book about the evolving relationship, friendship and love between mothers and daughters.
A beautiful book about the evolving relationship, friendship and love between mothers and daughters.
July 9, 2025
This book is a blessing. Thank you.
November 9, 2020
Heavenly
This was a little gift from heaven to read. It was exactly what my heart needed. I had said a little prayer wanting to know what my Mother in heaven thought of me. In this book She soothed my heart, as She always does.
This was a little gift from heaven to read. It was exactly what my heart needed. I had said a little prayer wanting to know what my Mother in heaven thought of me. In this book She soothed my heart, as She always does.
April 27, 2013
The giant Oak tree (Mother) was so excited to raise her Acorn (daughter) under the shadow of her limbs. A Squirrel comes and carries her just a little bit away, out into the bright son, and the tree asks the acorn if she will still be her daughter if she is away from her.. What a great fable about a Mother's love and learning to let go to let her daughter grow and shine! Using simple illustrations and dialogue the Oak tree and Acorn share the story of all Mother's hearts as they see their offspring grow and spread their wings. Perfect gift for Mother's Day from Daughter to mother!
August 24, 2012
A short story that I read while at Deseret Book. And although I think the intention could be given as a grown daughter is moving away from home. I found that it could also be from the perspective of a greater loss. Its a great reminder to those we leave behind that we will always be their daughter. I read this to a friend that lost her sister..and decided to gift it. Its worth reading.
August 16, 2013
I wish my daughter would read this book and say it to me!
June 26, 2014
This is the same (later edition/republication) of her other story Will You Still Be My Daughter. I will restate what I said there: This is a story that every mother and daughter should read!
September 23, 2014
sweet parable of two trees, a mom and daughter. quick little story, can read our in one sitting. I recommend to any woman :-)
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews