My Hero, My Mother

I awake screaming I wailed and wailed Then she came to me She picked me up Held me close “What has gone wrong?” Something bit me, I said She kissed my forehead Then fanned my bedside Like she understood Put me down to sleep I was only two months old And she was there for me I fell and skinned my knee I cried my small eyes out Still she came to me She picked me up Held me close “What has gone wrong?” I skinned my knee, I said She kissed my head Cleaned up my knee Gave me ice cream I was twelve years old Still she was there for me It was two days out I was too angry for words Throwing fits everywhere Yet she came to me She picked me up Held me close “What has gone wrong?” Joe is too annoying I can’t marry him again She kissed my forehead And said yes you can She was right, at twenty two Yet she was there for me I was on the floor rolling Pain squeezed my heart dry Again she came to me She picked me up Held me close “What has gone wrong?” I had a miscarriage, I said Tears slid down my cheeks She kissed my forehead The next one will stay, she said And she was right Again at thirty two She was there for me No o o o o o I shouted This is not happening Quickly she came to me She picked me up Held me close “What has gone wrong?” My husband is dead, I said Tears slid down my cheeks She kissed my forehead And whispered softly All will be well, she said At forty two, she was there for me My children are grown I have advanced in age My fears and pains I have conquered them all Never alone, thankful for help Now here she lay Taking her final rest Ashes to ashes, dust to dust I miss her already Why did she have to go? Through my sixty two years She was always there MY HERO, MY MOTHER