As Only A Loving Mother / Daughter Would

She reaches up from her restraining bed

and pulls me closer to her as best she can

kissing me numerous times on my forehead

telling me how much she loves and cares for me

Kissing me and blessing me as she must have done when I was born

gently touching and holding my face in her hands

her eyes softly gazing into mine and I know

she’s preparing me for her departure

as only a mother could, as only a loving mother would

again and again, kissing and holding my face in her hands

telling me how grateful she is for my birth

preparing me now to go on living without her

smiling at me through her pain

inviting me to smile back at her and not to cry

It’s our last goodbye and we both know it

probably as beautiful as was our first hello

gentle, tender and physically expressive

both of us ever so grateful for this time called life

as only a mother and a child could, as only love would

I’m loving the feel of her hands on my face

her soft lips on my forehead

the air of her breath on my neck

finally both of us smiling, as she lays there dying

I tell her how grateful I am to her, for her love, her life and mine

as only a loving daughter could and a loving mother would