What woman, with pain coursing through her labouring body, <br />Inhaled and exhaled in horror...knowing that death was closer than <br />The Priest? <br />What mother remembered the knife that gave her infant daughter <br />Life... <br />Then cursed her daughter-ravaged body...cursed her blood. <br />Mother. Mother, was this woman you? <br />Mother. Mother, rosary-seeking your way to God. <br />I can excuse. I can forget...but, <br />Mother, why have you never forgiven me? <br /> <br />What pale, exhausted mother, free of me unnaturally, <br />Birthed me in the morning light, only to punish me in later years for <br />Staying under the Sun? <br />What Heaven-bound mother knelt long years in pews, <br />Praying for me...what gratification was revealed to her <br />In the sight of God, haloed in thorns...His Cross <br />Suspended in silent darkness? <br /> <br />She is old. Her clouds are dimming. Her time to laugh is <br />Quickly finishing. <br />We never laughed together. <br />We never laughed. <br />Lord...I do not ask to be forgiven. I do not think that You should, but <br />If You see...and see to care... if You are really there, then hear: <br />Through my fault, through my most grievous fault...I have tried. <br />But I have lost the way to go home. <br />I am afraid. <br />Lord...I am not worthy to begin that journey again. <br /> <br />Must I sin to be forgiven? Christ, I cannot forgive. <br />Must I be wronged before I can pardon? Lord, I cannot forget. <br />I do not ask to be forgiven. <br />I do not think that You should...perhaps a time may come. <br />But, if You are there...and understand, <br />All I ask is a place in the Sun. <br /> <br />The Sun is behind me. <br />My Mother stands in my shadow. <br />She is a large part of my darkness. <br />Once...I was part of hers.<br /><br />elysabeth faslund<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/mother-and-daughter/
