Mother

How much is held

In this single word—

A whole wide world,

The endless cosmos,

The breath of all creation.

Mother is simply love.

Today, I’ve wandered

Through the windows of memory,

And gathered moments

Bathed in your grace.

Is there even a single breath

You weren’t beside me?

The gentle touch upon my brow

When illness dimmed my light,

The furrow of worry on your forehead

At the faintest ache I’d feel—

Still etched in my soul.

When joy came my way,

You were the first I ran to—

Hungry when I hungered,

Thirsty when I thirsted,

You lost yourself in me,

So I might find myself.

You corrected my wrongs

With the balm of your voice,

And carved my dreams

Into your very eyes.

In the burning heat of life,

Your love became shade,

A canopy of grace

That sheltered me.

In your face, I saw

The face of God.

How could I ever repay

A debt so deep?

No price could ever weigh

The worth of your affection,

No measure could ever hold

The fullness of your love.

You are priceless, my mother,

Above all words, above all worlds.