Coming Home Late One Night

Published in REMUS Literary Journal, Spring 2014 Rome, Italy.

Coming Home Late One Night

 

The moonlight shone

Silver and full

As I pull into the drive

Childhood memories

Flicker like ghosts

In the star-studded dark.

 

Calling softly, I open the door

The warning bark turns

To a whimper of joy

Soft fur pressing my legs

As they welcome me home.

 

I move through the darkness

As if in the light of day

To the bedroom where

Sleeping she lay-

Blood of my blood,

Flesh of my flesh-

The silver light paints

An earthreal glow

To the face I loved best

In the world that I know.

 

Sleep had softened

The lines of her face

And a peaceful serenity

Had taken their place.

 

One hand rested

Curled on her cheek

And memories swamped me

As I stood, watching her sleep.

 

I wanted to climb up beside her

And curl by her side

As I had done in my youth,

And to let her soothe

My world-weary heart

As she had done before

When life was simple

And she was my world.

She would have waited up

If she had known

That tonight was the night

I chose to come home.

I could feel that love

As I stood, watching her sleep

And felt the weight lift

And leave me in peace.

 

Not willing to risk

Disturbing her sleep,

I used my hands to sign

What I could not speak;

“I love you, mother.”

Reviews

[A. Amos]

Poetry at its best, well done my friend and sure your mom must be proud of your work.

[jeannemarie coulter]

very beautiful word tapestry...please share more...jc

[Revathi]

Courtney lovely poem about mothers love

[Coyote Poetry]

A beautiful poem for love and mother.
"Not willing to risk
Disturbing her sleep,
I used my hands to sign
What I could not speak;
“I love you, mother.”
Above lines left me with good vision and place. Thank you for sharing the excellent poetry.
Coyote