Visiting Mama (Poem)

 

Visiting Mama

There's a poem out there

about going to Mom's house

and raking up her leaves,

collecting them in 45-gallon bags

gathered in three different piles.

There's a poem about leaving home

in the morning to start the work early

and end late enough to catch the sun

hiding on the other side of the roof

as the wind scatters plans

to make the process any easier.

There's a poem about sitting down

with tacos and cranberry juice

as Mom talks about growing up

with sisters and brothers

who did things differently in the 60s.

There's a poem about finishing

the yard work so that Mom

can see the roots of her trees;

the same roots that grew

with me and my sisters between 1991

and today's news about World War III.

There's a poem about a wooden cross

leaning against her house

because that's who introduced us

on the birthing table.

There's a poem about being friends

with your mom

because you both fit that way. 

(March, 2022)