Momma's Day

68 years ago today the
Woman who brought me
Into the world was brought in
Just the same.

Charcoal black hair
Sapphire blue eyes
Porcelain skin and a
Smile so wide

An Irish twin to her older
Sister's shadow - always
Trying to live up to her
Mother's approval

Proving nothing but being
Disapproved and still her
Satin black hair and
Sparkling blue eyes

Belied the pain that she did
Hide behind so others would
Not see that she did not shine
As bright as the kettle her sister

Did whistle from being poured out
Upon the wishes of others - her
Mother abused her with bitterness,
Comparisons too - just not

Measuring up - yet up I looked at
Her cerulean peepers and fell
In love with her sweet demeanor.
She is my momma.

So precious; so dear - and so many
Times I have desperately feared for
Her safety and happiness and every-
Thing else to bring about a joy

Unending so as to erase the pain of
The past in order to grace her with
The beauty of the presence her
Presence has made in the lives of so many.

She has nursed the fears out of
Thousands of strangers with a bedside
Manner only exhibited in saints -
She said she was called and she

Is definitely capable and I hope I can
Be as saintly as she when she returns to
The position when she held me in her arms
As a babe - she did grace - so I could

Survive this trying race of life and
Disappointment, rejection and faith -
In not too near a future - I don't want to
Lose her face from the earth - I love her so.