Mother of the Fast-Breaking Tides

Mother of the daybreak & fast-breaking tides

Mother of the small cup & fruit of the peach tree

Mother of twigs & blossoms

fondled in the mouths of fished streams

memory of gold

& supper at noon

Mother of orange sunrise hat

& blue scarf

I followed you like a

river-lover

mountains & rain-

clouds covered your silk threads

brush of gold wheat

glorious sun milk

Mother of pink skies

Mother of ocean trees

& sidewalk fruit

Mother of heaven’s spring

Blue is your color

Green your mind

Wild lover of life

Flesh of moss & forest

birch & pine

Words spill like mountain song

from your dew of dust

Arched rhymes spring like

choreopoems of seeds

flickering like fire gardens

& the tulips open

to birthday’s beginning

green candles

& shouts of Mama’s joy

Mother of the child

of dark trees

blooming corn/stalks

blooming girls

blooming wombs

innocent in the snowy night

Mother of window bloom

cityscapes of

land bloom

corn bloom

squash bloom

Mother of the deep

carhaulingcitystacks

flowering steamwomb

Mother of the spider’s embroidered

soulmate

Mother’s breast of jewels

solitude’s precious gift

stored in a kitchen cupboard

shelves & shelves of Mama’s

hands & touch:

forks, spoons, saucers & saucers

of gentle death

strolled thru years & years of handsome

forgiveness

Mama, your arms outstretch

your eyes close

your chest pumps blood

to heaven, & you heave

death’s sigh

as your pressure drops

& I hear him say,

“She’s gone”

I was afraid

watching you die.

At night I became the screen

& your eyes

the lens of thick grass

like a path of pain

I walked thru

the days passed

& the hours

moved in like a

collapsing building

on your precious structure

the infections ate you up

as the coma

like a hulking voyage

shipped your body across

the green sea-sky

one day soon after you died

i was walking.

up a hill.

in the suburbs.

with trees.

on a summer day.

with birds.

& i was walking.

i felt you come.

in an aeroplane .

a small one.

like the children’s rides

at county fairs.

you were in the driver’s seat

& had taken charge.

you spoke to me.

you said .

don’t worry, sweetheart.

I’m okay.

I’m free now.

I love you.

i said.

Mama, why did you leave us?

we weren’t ready for you to die.

we had so many things to do together.

so many things to correct.

i need you.

You said.

I’m free now

Everything’s okay

You’ll be all right,

Sandy,

Everything will be all right.

i said.

yes, Mama,

i know.

but it’s the pain

the hurt

the deep well…

Mother of seed-

spring freedom

touch of orchid bloom

& dancing willow feet

beauteous comfort winged

on heaven’s summer shore

seawave grace of soft sand

Mother of white gulls,

beat night’s dusty heaven

into a basket of cosmic memories

whispered

thru

the diamond studded forest

of your starry ash