I Came a Long Way
I came a very long way to see you today,
under a wreath of ice and clouds and falling snow-
In the deep cold of WINTER- I found your headstone,
and brushed away the icy frozen snow with my mitten;
to reveal just one word (just one) the word- MOTHER.
I closed my eyes and WHISPERED, I love you Mom,
Remembering the day we stood on the street holding hands,
and in slow motion, Susan disappeared under huge truck wheels;
her blood soaking the PURE white snow to ruby red-
And the drum of time ceased and you were screaming.
I hear that screaming every night- it will ALWAYS haunt . . .
You were holding my hand so tight that it hurt-
we had a special bond that no one could understand,
a shared sorrow and PAIN- the memory that we shared.
It left my life a ravaged garden- (and you knew)!
When I was SAD- you held my hand so tight,
when my baby died, when my husband died, you held;
when Dad died, I held YOUR hand and kissed you-
When you got sick I held your hand- we talked,
when you were taking your LAST BREATH- I held you.
And by some miracle- in that LAST gasp of life,
you opened your tired eyes like a flower bud blooming,
and said, as clear as an azure blue sky above-
I love you . . . just three little words- my heart swelled,
and I put those words within like a precious gift . . .
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March 13, 2017 (edit, I Love You)
Free Verse/I Came A Long Way
Copyright Protected, ID 884367
Submitted to the contest, Free Verse, 250 words or less
sponsor, Laura Loo
Second Place
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