Mom

I was lost in the sea

And willing to float.

I thought I was meant to be a nomad

And always striving. 

I thought hope was not for me

But my life was an endless giving.

I had resigned at the altar of parenting

For that is how much I valued who you were to me. 

My son would only light up again

Once I was home. 

I could limp and rest

And you would not shy away. 

You protected me every step of the way.

I now know every light in me

began with you. 

Each laughter elicited by you. 

The glint in the eye

and the unerring will

was granted to me, 

by the memory of your love, still. 

Broken bone or broken heart.

Your tending was never off the mark. 

Thick and thin through you stood.

No scar you turned your face from. 

Faith grew as did hope

For I have never failed as you stood by my side. 

It hurts so much to see you grey. 

I guilt for having made you enter the fray. 

The energy stood dark and vicious

It took all our guile and guts to hoodwink

Together we stood around a hapless child

Breathless and hurrying to tend to wounds. 

The stories within did not scare you

You flinched as they spill out

you didn't pause me. 

This time. you said. 

Get it out for good. 

You refused to let the ugliness pause you. 

That very act was healing. 

Healing it is. 

That you do by being there. 

That gentle arm on the shoulder. 

The gentle nudge when tired. 

The food when we're hungry. 

Like I always say. 

You have saved more than one life. 

By holding on.