Before she was a mother
she was daughter
a sister, a child, a friend
a lover of art, poetry and music
She wrote in prose
and dreamed in color
She painted her future
bold, untouched
She spoke in foreign languages
that rolled brilliantly off her tongue
And visited exotic countries
rich in history and culture
Before she was a mother
she lived
carelessly, recklessly, wildly
She wanted more
and gained nothing

And then one day she was a mother
and she saw the beauty
in words, art, music
She dreamed of the future
that her child held in his hand
She sang songs
that never sounded so sweet
and saw the world through
her little child's
eyes
And she learned to live
And love
purely, unconditionally, completely
She wanted nothing
And yet, she had
Everything

I feel him
And know he is near
His spirit sings within me
Wanting so badly to see him
To touch him
Just one more time
My skin tingles as though
His fingertips have brushed my arm
And I know he is near
The breeze stirs, warm
And I feel
His kisses
Graze my face
My eyes, my lips
My soul cries for him
Broken, weeping
Not understanding
Where he is gone
Or why
Yet knowing
Somehow
We are together
Still

The reflection whispers back
a woman unrecognizable
her face weathered with lines
a smile dimmed by pain
time has taken it's toll
life has taken her
for all she had
and all she would become
the face of a woman who has created new life
and stared death in the eyes
a woman who has been beaten down
and forced to carry on
she has walked hand in hand
with the power of deceit
has been humbled by forgiveness
the woman who knows the meaning
of failure
and has lived long enough to fear evil
a woman with a past
that has made her who she is....
worthy

The sun burns

on her back
like coals on fire
her skin
taut, brown, leathered
her hands
calloused
her baby whimpers
from the woven cloth wrapped carrier
on her back
This day,
the same yesterday
the same tomorrow
where hope dies
and dreams never come

In His Eyes

The night was cold
and snow swirled in circles
making her feel
as though
she were
lost
in a snow globe

She knew he would come
leaving her heart to race wildly
fearing she would
be lost
in his
eyes
if only for tonight

Somewhere in her mind
she pushes away the thought
of tomorrow morning
when she
is left
alone
with memories of tonight

In his eyes she
sees everything she always wanted
everything she dreamed
of having
a love
surpassing
what might have been

Hit or Miss

I was young then
I didn't know how to love
And the night was dark
And cold
I shivered in my thick coat
Fighting both the wind and fear
That tore at my bones
"Don't walk away"
He whispered
"Stay"
But how could I explain then
What I know now
That love is just a game
Of hit or miss