Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Lenore

LENORE


The last coherent look my mother gave me
As she lay on what would become her deathbed
Was when I asked her, “How are you feeling, Mum?”

Too doped up on painkillers to do anything
But slip into a coma, she turned her head
And gave me a look that said, “How do I feel?
HOW DO YOU THINK I FEEL, YOU LOUSY KID?!?!”

That’s the first thing that comes to mind now when
I think of her –- that wounded, dying look
That makes me want to cry: “Oh God, I’m sorry!”

But the dead can’t forgive, any more than
The living can stop acting like idiots.
-- Matthew Wells

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

"That's the first thing that comes to mind now when I think of her"

I can relate to that.

"You lousy kid" made me smile! I can hear her say that.

Love you, my brother!