Late Mother's Day

I saw you silent in your sleep,
I saw your pain crossing the floor,
I saw the grimace when you stepped,
A narrowing world is your domain.

You're curled under covers, buried so deep,
You're stopping breathless by the door,
You're resting—I could have wept,
And I smile, wordless, but never in vain.

I knew you as mother, I knew you when,
I knew you with children, happy just because,
I knew you as tireless and ready for all;
Unstinting in kindness, unwearied in heart.

You stay at the altar, as you are, as you've been,
You stay with the goodness that motherhood was,
You stay at the dance, queen of my ball
Spent as you are, you're as good as the start.

© Phil Hodgkins 2002