Poems
MOTHER – AND ME
SHE SITS IN MY PORCH IN THE SUMMER SUN,
WAVING AND NODDING TO EVERYONE.
REMEMBERING DAYS WHEN SHE WAS A CHILD
ALONG WITH HER BROTHERS, RUNNING WILD.
SPEAKS OF HER GOWN IN WHITE SATIN AND LACE AND THE DAY HER WEDDING TOOK
PLACE.
TALKS OF HER BOY, A YOUTH FAIR AND TALL,
THAT HE DIED IN THE WAR SHE’S NO NOTION AT ALL.
OF HER DAUGHTER THERE’S NO RECALL.
EACH DAY AS THE CLOCK IN THE HALL CHIMES THREE
SHE WONDERS WHAT JACK MIGHT LIKE FOR HIS TEA.
PATIENTLY WAITS FOR HIS KEY IN THE DOOR
THOUGH DAD’S BEEN GONE THESE TEN YEARS OR MORE.
WE SHARE OUR EVENINGS COMPANIONABLY
LISTENING TO MUSIC, WATCHING TV.
NOW IT’S MY TURN TO CARE FOR
MOTHER AND ME.
By Gladys Taylor