page 360

For Mother Living

It was raining the day we were called,
to her side.
Sterilized faces
showed us to the door.
A sign said "No visitors
in red.

The white room smelled disinfectant
bottles oxygen and bed.
Starch sheets shroud a frail body
And mother tube in nose
screaming air.

I remember her opening her eyes -
only the whites showed.
We were standing
on all the pain and fighting
years of a woman
humbled by her body.

We had seen the results
of tests and drugs administered,
watched the brave acceptance,
Participated in the drama,
increased the passion,
Visited indignation,
and now revolted with our calm
choked.

In the morning someone said:
page 370 Mother's at rest now.
But the sun still rose.

Later that day the phone rang.
They wanted her body.
Cut naked to look at,
Mix entrails in the cavity,
Students to dissect their purpose,
the Bastards! Never satisfied,
gutting passion;
Not this time.
Mother's death.
That's enough.