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



Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Date: 9/10/2010 1:40:00 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
Login to Reply
Date: 6/3/2009 10:12:00 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
Login to Reply
Date: 5/22/2009 5:53:00 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.
Login to Reply
Date: 5/22/2009 4:20:00 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.
Login to Reply
Date: 5/22/2009 4:17:00 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...
Login to Reply
Date: 5/22/2009 1:44:00 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
Login to Reply
Date: 5/22/2009 12:43:00 AM
So much underlying emotion here Brian.Rgds Brian
Login to Reply
Get a Premium Membership
Get more exposure for your poetry and more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Reflection on the Important Things

Member Area

My Admin
Profile and Settings
Edit My Poems
Edit My Quotes
Edit My Short Stories
Edit My Articles
My Comments Inboxes
My Comments Outboxes
Soup Mail
Poetry Contests
Contest Results/Status
Followers
Poems of Poets I Follow
Friend Builder

Soup Social

Poetry Forum
New/Upcoming Features
The Wall
Soup Facebook Page
Who is Online
Link to Us

Member Poems

Poems - Top 100 New
Poems - Top 100 All-Time
Poems - Best
Poems - by Topic
Poems - New (All)
Poems - New (PM)
Poems - New by Poet
Poems - Read
Poems - Unread

Member Poets

Poets - Best New
Poets - New
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems Recent
Poets - Top 100 Community
Poets - Top 100 Contest

Famous Poems

Famous Poems - African American
Famous Poems - Best
Famous Poems - Classical
Famous Poems - English
Famous Poems - Haiku
Famous Poems - Love
Famous Poems - Short
Famous Poems - Top 100

Famous Poets

Famous Poets - Living
Famous Poets - Most Popular
Famous Poets - Top 100
Famous Poets - Best
Famous Poets - Women
Famous Poets - African American
Famous Poets - Beat
Famous Poets - Cinquain
Famous Poets - Classical
Famous Poets - English
Famous Poets - Haiku
Famous Poets - Hindi
Famous Poets - Jewish
Famous Poets - Love
Famous Poets - Metaphysical
Famous Poets - Modern
Famous Poets - Punjabi
Famous Poets - Romantic
Famous Poets - Spanish
Famous Poets - Suicidal
Famous Poets - Urdu
Famous Poets - War

Poetry Resources

Anagrams
Bible
Book Store
Character Counter
Cliché Finder
Poetry Clichés
Common Words
Copyright Information
Grammar
Grammar Checker
Homonym
Homophones
How to Write a Poem
Lyrics
Love Poem Generator
New Poetic Forms
Plagiarism Checker
Poetry Art
Publishing
Random Word Generator
Spell Checker
Store
What is Good Poetry?
Word Counter
Hide Ad