Two poems to my Mother.

TO A LOVED ONE

(My Mother)

Autumn of low sun

and long shadows

dark days

and morning mists

that cloak my valley

in dreamscapes;

softening

winter's

harsh approach.

Like you, before you flew

left clues

of imminent departure

in shrouded sentences

and sideways glances

that signalled

the frozen years to come.

The daylight sleeps

yet the trees

stripped of their leaves

allow light into my forest

and winter's moon

upon the woodland floor.

So it it with you

warm memories flicker

in the inner sanctum of my soul

and tears cannot put out

the fire I have inside for you.

LOST OPPORTUNITY

The last kiss we gave each other, as you lay dying

Was like the first kiss that you gave to me, to hush my crying.

But through the myriad wasted hours in between

delicate times for kissing you, were missed by me.

Why oh why does it take birth and death

to separate me holding you, mama mild,

like you held me when I was an upset child.

But , oh why did I not cradle you as you grew old?

And now you're gone, I regret all that I should have done.

Told you at thirty how pretty you were; my heart you'd won.

At forty that you had spun my dreams.

At sixty, your highness, you were my queen.

In the hour of your death it was obscene

watching the crows circle over your bed,

unable to breath life back into you

too useless to smother you with myself.

                                                                David, who thinks of you every day.