i am visiting my Mother;

her crisp, cool breath envelops me 

sends shivers through my bones

in her comforting embrace,

      i take in her presence

i want to stay with her forever

      but i cannot - even as

she looms above me in majesty

all of her tough edges 

and her gentle ground

preserved in this pristine picture- 

pictures of fresh vitality and nurturing arms 

                                        stretching to the sky-

she cannot stay like this

this is how she grows old

older and weak as

her children

take all of her life-

her own children

take all of her air

take her home

take away everything 

she spent so long building-

buildings chip away at her

her own children

trashing her house

dirtying her air

turning her into an attraction

to be admired

Admired. 

then trashed on in an instant

her tears are filled with toxins 

toxins emptying into a sea full of nothing

nothing but riches to be stolen 

and robbed without 

Consequence. 

her breath becomes fragile and sour

her fever is rising, 

melting away the layers of protection

she is no longer protected

her shield is melting away 

away her emotions flood into the world

she cries for help.

yet no one listens:

i am listening to those,

those that repeat her message while 

standing still 

on a street corner handing out 

flyers made from the support beams

of her house 

spreading the message 

to save her before she collapses.  

i am crying with her. 

I am visiting my mother-

because she will soon be 

Gone.