Mama's Face

I love the deep quiet in which I live and grow against 
 the world and harvest what they cannot
 take from me with fire or sword.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

There are secrets hidden in this smile,

Stories in this face. Life and

Years have etched memories—

Times that will not tell

Days not to be recalled.

Tears have fallen from these eyes

Joy tears and pain tears that now

Merge into a quiet acceptance of time

Sorrow lurks here in her features

And pensive poetry tries to escape

A dream wishing to be begotten

Of places now almost forgotten.

A song emanates through this skin

Singing she has loved and is loved

Mother, white capped with wisdom,

Longs for missing days, looks for empty spots

Where no light can reach,

I wish I knew the words that 

Are still inside.