Mother In The Nursing Home
Mother was a rock of support
Always advocating for my welfare
A fierce defender
Defeating the number one contender
Apathy
She saved all of my writings in the attic
Considering them precious and priceless
Who knows one day?
Still it is the nature of humanity
To soften in the latter years
To fall into the hands of frightful fears
And so Mother was in the nursing home
After the breast cancer, the pace maker and the stroke
We sadly learned the cancer had returned
A terminal diagnosis
Six days a week I visited her
Only absent Wednesday as Sylvia and I went to Bible study
An hour after work it was my steadfast duty
I'd sit at her side making my presence known
Lord have mercy on those abandoned alone
We'd watch the nightly news and I'd depart
Saturday Sylvia and I were all day by mother
My wife, the marvelous cook she is, would make
Piping hot chicken soup from fresh whole chickens
Enough to last the week through
Delicious and nutritious
And Sundays it was between services
To stay a couple of hours
I did all in my power that I could do
I remember the last days
They sent mother home to die
Marianne was by her side
I got the call at four a.m. in the morning
My heart descended below the depths of Sheol
The rock had been grinded to dust
Mother had died
I cried
There is a solace
I was there when she needed me
A true champion she lived six months more
Then the doctors predicted
She was in the fight of her life, for her life
I did not repay what she gave me
Love keeps no score
