The Mother Leaves Them
She wasn’t there the night
the mother died
instead the brother
called at 1 am.
She’s gone, he said.
The sister had been there all day
watching her chest heave,
each breath a rage
against some hope
a dying body doesn’t want
She described her as
complicated
a word the other brother
refused to accept
Can’t you just say
you loved her?
Can’t you just say that?
She held the hand of the mother
yellow and sallow
who held hers, once
red and strong enough
to knock the sass
out of a mouth
She walked out into her backyard,
the restless sky crammed with stars
waiting for something to break, knowing
the mother would always be
somewhere listening for her name.
13 thoughts on "The Mother Leaves Them"
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This is a powerful poem. Thanks for sharing it
The third verse is my favorite spot in the poem. It describes a central conflict. The inclusion of dialogue really works!
I love the way you end this sad poem.
The third verse is the fulcrum that just grabbed me by the throat. Such vivid writing all the way through. Thank you.
this heaving chest is contagious – I felt it all the way through this poem, thank you for sharing!
Love that final verse. Real music in those lines.
Great poem!
Thank you for this poem, Liz. I got the same call from my brother when my father died in Connecticut. Your poem made me remember, which is something good poems do.
Beautiful. “Restless sky crammed with stars” as if the number of stars in the sky are suffocating; not a typical reflection of a sky full of stars; further conveying the mood/heaviness of this experience.
Love it! Love the intentional use of each string of words.
She described her as
complicated
a word the other brother
refused to accept
Can’t you just say
you loved her?
Can’t you just say that?
Some things & relationships can only be described as complicated. And those others who want only a sentimental last word. I always appreciate when there is a death that someone will acknowledge that the deceased had flaws.
amazing understated power here
Breaks my heart.
Those phone calls in the night.
Perfect capture.
“The restless sky crammed with stars” is such a perfect reflection of the mood of the poem- anger masking sadness underneath.