mother

Picasso, Mère et enfant

for Kim...

take your time

it's a lot to swallow

tomorrow and tomorrow

without her

she was the garden

that bloomed every spring

she was the calla lily

and the robin

in the summer she was ice tea

and a summer salad

she always looked so cool

in her sleeveless blouses

in the fall she pruned the roses

and washed the blankets

some of them went perfectly folded

to charity

you could hear her humming

in the kitchen when you came in

from a wintry day

cold and dripping

after finding you a towel

she made you soup

and a sandwich

you knew you were home

now that she is gone

the world is lonelier

for no one will ever love you

the way that she did

in her garden

you look up at the trees

the wind comes up suddenly

and kisses your hair

just for a moment

you feel her there

in her garden

outside the kitchen door

tears well up

as you remember how

she gently taught you

to say thank you