To Mother

A stabbing pain awakes me, 
The beating of my heart,
The crying of my soul,
Signaling empty—that you are gone.

I never lost such love 
Until I lost yours. 
The dark was never so deep 
Until your light went out. 

You are gone, gone, gone, gone
And I can’t reach you
E’en though I stretch a wild hand
To find lonely fingers.

Your voice—its cadence 
In my ears. 
Your lovely charm and face 
A whisper of memory. 

Come back for only a breath 
And then another, another, 
So I never have to breathe 
Without the love you breathed into me.