above all else you were a friend

you were a friend 

another poem about my mom 

spoon to mouth 

shaking hand 

i sit on the ottoman 

quivering jaw 

patient smile 

are you scared?

terrified 

the corn is growing 

so are the weeds

choking out the flower seedlings

choking out the hope of us

i do it for the both of us 

that night i sat on the ottoman

and did what you have done before 

a million times a million times a million times 

a million more 

velvet hair 

lukewarm touch

barely touch your food

the clay in my hands

won't shape into what i want 

the dog is barking 

time exploding

will you see the christmas lights?

tuck you in just like you tuck me in 

you thought i forgot those times

that night i sat on the ottoman

and did what you have done before 

a million times a million times a million times 

a million more 

a mother friend a major friend 

a lovely friend a patient friend

above all else you were a friend 

a million times a million more