In Her Mother's Eyes

She carries these images of the past

in pictures of black and white and gray

Of times belonging to the past--not of today.

She sees a part of herself in her mother’s eyes,

And longs for a place to dwell

in comfort, in safety, in warmth,

away from today’s hell.

Images frozen in a time that was

really no safer than now.

Pain, hardship, sorrow was there

and is in the here-and-now.

She carries these images of the past

in pictures of black and white and gray,

and in faded memories

that forget and forgive the pain

of times belonging to the past--not in vain,

but in longing--in a longing to be free….

Theresa M

Happy Birthday, mom