Birmingham Poem number 2

To my mom who I did not get to know

It was the day of the funeral and Angie was  but a 7 year old child.
She could not quite grasp the concept that, her mother had just died.

There were so many people there that day she had not ever seen before,
It seemed as the front door would just be closed, it would open up once more.

Triangular sandwiches of ham and egg were soon passed upon a tray,
Many stories of past not heard before these strange people had to say.

These people knew her mom way back, from so many years ago,
It seemed to Angie at that time, her mother she didn’t really know.

Her mother’s clothes and bags and things were picked for all that was good
A jumble sale of her mothers life, like vultures gathering all they could.

It was time to enter the front room where her mother lay in state.
A moment to see her mother again, ignorantly, for this moment, Angie could not wait.

Her mom would wake up and stop all this fuss,

and make them all just go away.
She was frightened by all the panic and tears,

her mom would make it ok.

Andrew was lead through the door by Linda, who had taken control of the room,
The sound of his breath as it caught in his throat, was taken over by tears all too soon.

Angie stood at the door waiting for her turn to lays eyes upon her mother.
Such a hope she had at this very time, it had been days since she told her she loved her.

Her brothers didn’t smile as they walked on by; did they not know that their mom was now here?
The looks on there faces as they walked on past, were full of confusion and fear.

Andrew had walked past the big brown box, and was now heading out of the door,
He had tears in his eyes and a sorrowful look, he showed no hope anymore.

Angie was next to enter the room, with a glee that so filled her heart
She knew that her mom would be there for her; no longer would they be apart.

The first glimpse of her mother that Angie had, was of an angel so calm and serene
No shadow of the pain of so many years, for there was no life to be seen.

“Give mom a kiss and say goodbye” was what Linda had to say,

 “but mom please wake up, you know I am here, please make all these others go away”

No kiss could she give, no matter how she tried, it was just not a thing she could do.
“If you wake up mom I will be a good girl, I will carry the shopping bags for you”

It was not to be, and the boys came in, to carry their mother away,
It was the last time she would ever see her mom, her last time after today.

The garden was covered in flowers in bloom; a sight her mother would have loved to have seen
Now Angie would have to make do with her past, and remember what little time there had been.

A big black car was now outside; and her mother was placed gently in.
She did not cry for what she did not understand, but only for what she had seen.

The beautiful flowers were placed on top of the car, and also where her mother lay,
Not a word was spoken as this was done, not a word did any one say.

It seemed that day the street came out, and glanced upon a sorrow so new.
A bucket of water was thrown from each house, for respect, that’s what neighbours do.

Curtains were drawn and heads did bow, for a woman who touched all she knew,
It was a shock to all who know Gladys Jones; she was not just a friend to a few.

Andrew and Angie were classed as to young; they were not allowed to see.
Their mother placed deep beneath the earth, where she would remain for eternity.

Linda had turned just sweet 16, two very long days before, she had to look after the two little ones, but she cried as she closed the front door.

She never got to say her goodbyes, as she had so longed to do;

her needs were put aside that day, as the young ones needed her too.

Linda would always resent the fact, that she could not stand beside her moms grave,
She is much older now and so much the wiser, now she knows of the comfort she gave.


by Angie_emau