QUARANTINE LIFE: REMEMBERING MOMMY

The recesses of your mind—such a tricky place

There’s good, bad, bliss, 

Arresting sadness all over the place

And all it takes is one thought; 

One eye-catching thing to send you there

You pray to find a new, safe, healthy, clean slate 

To write a fresh memory

But where?

The things that take you back 

Where you don’t want to go

Are still alive and well

Maybe a little worn, since stumbling through your life

But triggers still; 

Your heart will tell

Your brain suggests you fix your face; 

Reassures dignity’s still in place

Now, if only your racing heartbeat will subside

But some experiences leave scars

That make you relive the hard truth;

Self preservation kicks in

Pride, anxiety, and despair tag along, too

No need to question how you are

Of COURSE you’re not okay

But consolation comes to testify—

You’ve grown a lot since yesterday

It’s human nature to think, to love, to mourn

No crime in how you feel; 

There’s no stopwatch that says 

“By now, your wounds should be healed”

Just limit the revisits to the recesses

But if you must go there,

Find the good; 

There’s no error;

No need to regret that you cared

Love’s never wasted

Love’s NEVER wasted

Lesson learned—but loving’s not a waste of time

The joy you tasted, perhaps, is what remains

To remember fondly and move on?

To appreciate what’s gone?

To realize it’s never really gone?

That’s just fine.

-VW

#RIPMommy 2/4/2003