A Mother's Hero

She stood rigid, towering
with irony's strength,
but swayed when she heard
hollow whispers fade
to silent echoes
that left a skeleton beneath cold skin.

Grief spiraled wails
between her lips,
as the truth of death prevailed.

Rushing to her side, her son
guided her to a secure stance.
In that moment
a child grew into a man,
unto the eyes of his mother
a hero he stands.

Tracey L. Hardie

This poem was written for a special friend who as a child became a hero to his mother when his father passed away.