She withers
    just a wisp of
    who she was

The smile folded into solemness
hiding feelings too painful to feel
     Feelings festering to the surface
     Scabs picked off
     Feelings slapped down
     Growth pushed back

Mom, I am but pieces
    broken
and shattered
and empty
    Lifeless.

She laughs 
    with a laugh that moves even the angels

I really did it this time, didn't I?
    Even in a place of safety and maintenance
    I cannot succeed

I have fallen for their nothingness.
    Of being a less than
    no expectations - no reason to contribute
    the purpose of living you say Mom
    everyone is worthy of giving
       a thought - I am not smart 
       a smile - I am not good
       an action - I am no longer able

She walks frail and medicated
    Still wanting to speak to the audience
    She has been called to give testimony to

And in slow mental processing
    fogged with medication she speaks
    of being slated for helpless
        that became hopeless
That safety brought no comfort -
     come forth to shelter
     from the storms of life.

And to my child
I whisper I love you
and I picker her up
     and swing her tiny body around
And I know in my heart
     there is very little left
And together we flee
     for miles and hours 
     and hours and miles

And now she sits in a chair
     with wheels - restricted
      while she builds
            her strength
            and courage
      to allow the Master's hand
      to reform the broken pieces
      and rearrange them new

And I "with her" will help her
walk again
and stand tall again
and laugh with the laugh of angels again
and again we will march for the voiceless
and be thankful we have
     been given the priviledge to see the unjust

And always a springtime will
bring new growth on old stems
Because we know our water runs deep
and our roots know their source

The source of re-creation for living.