I opened up the door, to a room at <br />the nursing home; <br />it was dark and quiet inside, for <br />my Mother liked being alone. <br /> <br />I tip-toed ever so quietly, to the <br />bed where my Mother layed; <br />I whispered, 'Mom, I've missed you and <br />thought I'd come, to visit with you <br />today'. <br /> <br />In her usual stone-cold voice she <br />asked, 'Why are you even here; <br />it seems I just can't get rid <br />of you, though I've tried for many <br />years'. <br /> <br />'Now Mother', I tried to joke with <br />her, 'you know that you're glad to see; <br />this thorn in your' side, this pain in <br />your' neck, this daughter full of <br />failousies'. <br /> <br />I should have known better by now, then <br />to joke with this woman in the bed; <br />for all of my life, we rarely spoke, <br />though so much was always said. <br /> <br />I sat down in a chair beside her, <br />and looked into her eyes; <br />they were full of anger and hostility, <br />directed at me, I surmised. <br /> <br />I must have been there for over an hour, <br />yet not one word did she say to me; <br />she just stared with contempt at her <br />youngest daughter, who was staring back <br />at her lonely Mommy. <br /> <br />I finally said, 'Well Mom, I have <br />things I need to do; <br />but I'll be back as soon as I can, to <br />spend some time with you'. <br /> <br />I leaned over her bed to give her a <br />kiss, and she pulled away from me; <br />I thought, 'She'll never show me any <br />love or affection, for some things were <br />never meant to be'. <br /> <br />But I kissed her anyway, and I hugged <br />this stranger that I knew; <br />I whispered in her ear, 'I love you, <br />and her response was, 'Right back at <br />you'.<br /><br />Ruth warren<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-visit-6/
