to my dear friend on the loss of her son

a mother's grief



close the eyes that no longer see.

cover the face that will never smile back at me.

wrap the body.

take it away.

but he will stay with me.

i will draw him back into myself, a swelling burden

that will press upon my flesh and bone and make me cry.

cry with a pain that won't be eased after hours of labor,

but by years of caring for the living.

-----genevieve smith whitford