For Mom
You are so strong
The strongest woman I know
You’ve survived things
That would kill Hercules
You gave everything you could for me
And every person in our family
After father passed
And your dearest twin Katy died
Dementia and MG
Enforced their cruel rules
But, yet...
You continued to love
You continued to share
With any other
Your heart you’d gladly share
Led the way
For my intellectual pursuits
Encouraged my music
Even with critical truth.
I called you when I had no one
No one else cared
A loving voice on a telephone
I knew you were still there
I’m sorry that in my life
All the times I was too busy
Had to leave, somewhere to go
Couldn’t sit still, never there
Now I’d walk a Missouri mile
To have one more chance
To laugh and talk and be with you
Like I never shall be able to again
So smart and funny
And great with puns
When Godfather Death comes
I’m sure you’ll have one
In my own world
I sit behind the bed
Rolling jacks on the floor
Saying 'mother, not yet.
