What a Mom Is

On 10 years passing ...

Day 20 of 30 Days of Poetry, Autumn 2024

A mom is god on this green earth
the maker of people.
When a mom dies
maybe her spirit goes to heaven
but she never leaves.
I know now after
10 years passing
her being always by my side.
A mom lies awake
years after her kids
move out, wondering
are they safe
did they eat 
are they drinking water
did they lock their doors
Did I do enough?
A mom lets you down
says wrong things
slivers of cutting words
that etch into memory 
in between the 
tidal waves of 
forgotten giving.
A mom eats last
sleeps least 
worries most
forgets to 
pack her own food
for the trip the zoo.
A mom dies
trying
dies waiting
dies wishing
she'd done better
done more.
A mom holds
onto you
at every age
cutting and pasting
hot cross buns
hockey assists
homecoming dresses.
A mom creases
and folds and
wrinkles and
expands into
stretch waistbands
grasping at
scattered love
like dandelion
seeds.

---

Today’s the 10th anniversary of the passing of my mom, Georgia Howard. I sure do miss her weekly phone chats, her warm hugs, her direct ways. Like a lot of kids-turned-parents, I understand my mom and dad much more as I’ve become a parent myself.

Also today’s word was “dandelion” for my friend and wonderful mother, Valorie.