Mother Last Day

I held her hand as she silently whispered her goodbye
A last breath as I watched her die
Her skin swollen-battered and bruised
By all the things that they felt they needed to use

I stroked her hair and wiped her eyes
Wanting so much for them to open and see
That I was alone there in the world
Alone with the agony growing inside of me

I watched those around me shed their tears
And utter their words of sorrow
How could they know that I was dying inside?
I couldn’t and you wouldn’t – face tomorrow

One last time I kissed your face
And held your hand to touch my cheek
I wanted to carry you away from there
My fragile mother who was just too weak

I heard the people all around me
The silence of the machines now so loud
And I walked away – my heart now broken
And tried to face the waiting crowd