Mercury can’t be captured
The more you try the more
it breaks into smaller pieces each
rolling away at its own speed  

My mother too
each piece a mystery
rolling away at its own speed  

Just at dawn on this day
twenty-eight years ago she left
gone
gone
gone

One last rattling inbreath

One last soft outbreath  

Sophie woman of moods woman of mystery
she who couldn’t be captured
she who wouldn’t obey the dictates
of polite suburban life  

Sophie of the cigarette
firmly planted between redstained lips
pontificating

Sophie of the darkened room
silent, gone away, gone away gone away  

Sophie of the soft word and the sweet caress
whispering comfort in my ear  

Sophie of the headback laugh
eyes atwinkle, free as a mercury drop  

Sophie woman of mystery
woman of moods
Mother, sister, daughter, friend
Woman