[the Writing of Kuypers][JanetKuypers.com]
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called hours before I came over
and they had game shows on
she should be feeling better now, I think
I gestured to say good bye today
but I could visit her at home
and she said
and I did my best to not cry
wither away, she says
it won’t
U.S. Government Copyright © 2004
Wither Away
saw my mother today
am getting used to seeing her sleeping
“sure, we should be here,” my sister said
“she’s napping now”
so she should be awake when I got there
one called Lingo, I think
and mom’s eyes were opening
and closing
over and over again
she should be on the road
to getting home
and feeling more at peace with her life
told mom that I didn’t know if she’d be leaving
to go back home before this weekend
so this is the last chance I might see her
if that’s okay with her
“I don’t want you to me me wither away”
and I said,
“mom,
we want to see you,
we love you”
and I kissed her arm
and her forehead
even if I see her for weeks
months
years
lying on the couch
falling in and out of sleep
my memories of her will not wither away
the things she has given me
will not wither away
and my love for her will not wither away
I promise
Copyright © 2006 Janet Kuypers.
Chicago Poet Janet Kuypers
on all art and all writings on this site completed
before 6/6/04. All rights reserved. No material
may be reprinted without express permission.
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