I was visiting mom

In her upstairs apartment

Above the first pizza place in this village

She said

If you can and want to

Come stay with me for awhile

This summer

Live here

I would love that

We haven’t been together

For more than a couple weeks a year

Since 1980

So, my boy, think about it, please.

I was waist-deep in university and girl thoughts  and willful abandon…

I took her plea seriously,

But I didn’t take her up on the offer.

I will regret this forever.

She was hardened by her own experiences

Yet she broke though her own defenses

To tell her first-born:

Please come back to me

We didn’t have enough time together, then

Come back, my boy.

And now

The time is long gone.

The pie is cold.