True Story

they said when they found her
she was frozen

my god-mother who was a police officer
told me 
they had to peel the ice laden sheets from
my mothers face

i knocked on the the door
the night before

when it swung open behind the iron guard gate

i stared at champagne
such an odd name
for a pit bull

having hated me for years
he lunged at the gate

why didn't i just leave?
why?

i ran to the back of the house and
broke the window
why was i panicking?

broke the window to draw him to the back

ran back to the front door
and tried...
mamma i tried....

to open the gate

champagne
such an odd name
hit the gate howling and growling

i wish i would have paid attention
to how he looked at me

i left defeated
and asked the neighbor if he had seen
my mom

"not today"

i found out the next day
that my mom was frozen stiff on that bed
all alone
while i knocked
outside
Copyright © | Year Posted 2009

Poem

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Blauw Avatar
September 10, 2010 at 1:40 PM
I cried when I read this. Im so sorry that you had to endure this with your own mum. Sending you a huge hug.... Robyn
Chircop Avatar
June 3, 2009 at 10:12 PM
heartfelt and sad,this poem broke my heart,to loose mum is to loose the world,and not to be near her at that moment of departing is wound cut deep---strong emotions,kept me reading it over again,it goes to my favs and you to my favs poets-charma
Bird Avatar
May 22, 2009 at 5:53 AM
Brian this just gave me chills all over. Such power and emotion, through your material here, makes me want to run over and give you a big hug! That would be so awful to not know what was going on and then what a dark day the next? Again I am left here with tears streaming down my face this morning.
Higgins Avatar
May 22, 2009 at 4:20 AM
you walking away not knowing...powerful lines and powerful way of telling a story....I am adding this in my faves and putting you as my fave poet..your work always do wonders to my writing..calling me higher..keep up the good work.
Higgins Avatar
May 22, 2009 at 4:17 AM
Oh goodness Brian....this really knocked me out this morning...the content is just mind blowing..I know this type of death.. I know what it is like to lose a parent....knowing that you will never see them again until that time..this is working on my heart.....from a poetry stand point it is awesome..I love the champagne line and you writing the odd name line over and over..something about that line and you repeating it that made this poem breaks me down..the knock..the neighbor...
Christian Avatar
May 22, 2009 at 1:44 AM
A powerful write full of emotion, it is devestating when we are not able to help those we love. God bless you from diane
Strand Avatar
May 22, 2009 at 12:43 AM
So much underlying emotion here Brian.Rgds Brian
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