My Mother

A golden drop in the crystal stream of my life

The snow sleeted the windows as I searched the halls of the brick city the dragon had put you in..

for it was Xmas Eve and my heart cried out until I saw you there, the red and green garlands of the holiday season leading me to the place of your despair.... strapped in your hallway chair, relentlessly banging your head, hugging to your breast the little doll you called Mary and speaking words only known to you...

O Mother I knew... the black dragon of Alzheimer's had taken away your precious time and space, ripping and shredding at will, leaving you alone to wander through the endless maze of your own mind...

at last I found you... wiping away my tears I sat on the worn carpeted floor beside your chair... holding you tightly in my arms... stopping the movement of your head and said to you, 'Merry Xmas Mother, I love you'...and your emerald eyes searched mine until the star of recognition shined bright and you whispered clear and calm to me, 'I love you too Mary Kay'...

your body twisted and turned in your chair and the perpetual motion started to repeat, over and over...

I did not want to leave

I did not want to leave...

I did not want to leave you there alone on Xmas Eve...I wanted to take you up with me, high in the air, two wondrous birds circling high above it all....wild with freedom from the earthly chains of sadness...

But those were our last words... for you did leave this world just as the New Year passed...and I was there with you as I had promised...

and Triumph came as I watched you cross from the cold steel room of Death to catch ahold of your Moonbow,,, the warmth of your love for me filling me up even as I closed your beautiful Irish eyes, holding on to your hand until the coolness told me that I had came but now you were gone...

And I knew

at last,

you had left this world behind to run through a long forgotten meadow towards the swing of a garden gate, your small dusty feet flying along the pathway of a sun bright heavenly day... the hollihocks blooming in joyous colors,,, the scent of roses filling the air as the playful breeze tumbled through your raven black curls...a child, a child once more... running to meet her beloved....

for a boy and his dog waited on the other side of the gate for you...

Sammy and Kate,

together, forever and a day

and at last dear one, you are home.

Godspeed Mother,

Godspeed Daddy

Mary Kay

your only child