Mother I need
Mother I need you to hear me
You are the only witness
Mother I need you to bear witness
to my childhood memories only I remember
I need to know that the golden bubble in my chest
is a real place
I find my way back
then suddenly I am
between there and now
there is a cold rain
I shiver
Mother I need you to hear me
where my battle howls
Mother I need you to free me
from the heavy weight of your optimism
your expectations
feel like my expectations
do unto others
keep everything in order
a tidy house with all the things inside
Mother I need to be free
from the heavy weight of loss
from the heavy weight of love
not understood not entered
not matching symbols and movies where
they always seem to kiss, smile
Mother I need the world to be easier
It is too cold.
Mother I need to rest
I need a lullaby that feels innocent
a sweet lullaby
a nap from which I awaken
fresh and calm
Mother I need eyes
I need eyes that don't flinch from the
dark colors of trash and blood
My eyes sting from car exhaust smell
I need to know how to find love
where there is pain
Mother I need eyes that see light within
I need your your trust
Your trust would be like ballast
hold my heart above water
hold my worn dinghy upright
in the backeddies
of this untamed sea
Peggy Morrison
Peggy Morrison is a California teacher, writer, dancer, musician, and outdoorswoman, currently living in San Francisco.