Missing Mother

Missing Mother's sweetness

of scented perfumed summer flowers,

her soft wrinkled bony hands

holding mine,

her warming skin starting to cool,

her breath beginning to slow

moments before her body slumped.

*

Her jingling wrist of charms

now handed down to me,

I touch its jacquard, sterling silver edges,

remembering her smile,

bright cheeks glowing redness

always empowering my soul.

Mother's whispered tone

comforting and soft.

Her shoulder-length hair,

shiny brown flickered with grey.

Her straight pointed nose,

sniffed so many times

throughout the day,

her hayfever symptoms,

a problem, coughing louder

towards the end.

Mother's small frame,

smaller at the end,

bony shoulders, thin long arms,

deeply shadowed freckles pale,

her sweet flowering scent

diminishing.

Her life and soul in God's hands,

shifting slowly,

as her lips open graciously,

murmuring soft unrecognizing words,

her eyelids flickering,

her hand held out

catches mine,

my wet tears fall,

as Mother's weak gaze

shuts down.

The sun suddenly emerges,

shimmering brightly

through a side window,

and I know God has taken her,

up to the sacred heavenly clouds,

now a whitened full glow,

as the sun embraces

the stunning blue sky.