Poems 2005

Mama’s Tears

How to explain
when mama cries
uncontrolled, with sobs,
holding her sides,
heaving in heavy sighs
trying to catch the breath
of life slipping away?

How to explain
to the child, wide-eyed,
what finally broke
a mother’s pride,
and the inner strength
that had helped her resist
floods of pain in the past?

How to explain
the touch of her hand
releasing its hold
as she lost control,
unable to stand
the sucking current
of rejection and neglect?

How to explain
how it felt to sit
in the midst of ruins,
dust clinging to sweat,
caked in salty tears,
abandoned and alone
with no place to go?

How to explain
why the song
on her lips,
when all went wrong,
can no longer be sung
to console
her own aching heart?

How to explain?
How to explain?
How to explain?

 

© 2005 Richard Sidy

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