Oh, Mother! I remember you so clearly.
What a gift to recall your love,
the sound of your voice,
and how you held me
even when you were in a rush.

I recall peeled grapes and pate sandwiches
the crusts cut off to please my soft baby mouth.
Group hugs with daddy before bed,
teaching me words to read,
and numbers to count.

You played your guitar to help me sleep
just one note. I wanted just one note
so that I could learn the sound.
Too many notes kept me awake,
so you played just one
and let it fade away
as I faded into slumber.

Sometimes I went to your closet
just to smell your clothes
when you were away at work.
I knew your scent
and you knew mine.
How I loved the soft silk you wore.

Too few years we had together
before they took me from you
and took you from the world.
A far greater tragedy than the one
they played to the public.

I love you, Mother.
I will always love you,
not just for being my mother,
or for being who you are,
but for everything that we are together.

We are love, my mother and me.
My sweet, kind, cherished, beautiful mother.