Mother.
I could spend eternity wasting away,
turning letters into words
and words into lines
stanzas upon stanzas
just about you
about the way your soul shimmers
beams across any room
like a lighthouse
guiding me ashore
or about your laugh
and how it stands out
echoes no matter how loud
or the kindness of your heart
sweeter than honeydew
and even makes sunflowers shy away
warm like a cozy blanket on a winters day
But you are not perfect
Far more complex
You are the thrashing waves
Against a now ruined city
A hurricane carving its path
As land crumbles and the sky falls
Thunder against an oak tree
Down to root, shredded, set aflame
You are the embodiment of pride
And when tears manage to escape those eyes
The oceans weep and it only showers acid
As there is no more water left to pour
You are so giving to a fault
Your heart sprays and feeds the land
In which vultures can’t help but to steal more
Relishing in your slow, cruel death
But death will have to keep up
As you’ve been running since 15
The first kid, the first apartment
Never quite could catch a break
Always had something on your plate
I always wondered where you got that energy
All while you had so little to create
All that to say, yes you are imperfect
But the world made that way
And while it’s hard to give you grace
Amidst all the hurt and mistrust
I think that’s a part of being human
As I grow older and anger has dissipated,
with hard conversations and tortured healing,
forgiveness is on the horizons
And hope is surely brewing.
4 thoughts on "Mother."
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Powerful words. I enjoyed this poem about your mother, and yes, they are human.
probably the hardest reality i’ve had to face which seems a little funny now that i’m writing it out here hahaha. i’ve been able to connect with her more as my mother, the human rather than my mother, the loving caretaker (which is purely just one aspect of her of course). thank you for your kind words.
I really appreciate the portrait of a whole person you’ve made about your mother here, accepting all the faults along with all the good. I have nothing but faith that the beams of shimmering soul will grow brighter and brighter.
Loved the kindness of your heart sweeter than honeydew!, Beautiful portrait!