We come into the life of a stranger
with all the helpless fury
of a storm in an aquarium.
Frail and weak, we are unable to
perform the most basic
tasks needed for survival.
But within moments of our first meeting
the stranger has taken us to her breast
and allowed us to drink from the
fountain of her heart.
In a life full of busy days
she will make us the
center of her universe.
Her every waking
awakened
moment
will be spent trying to understand
the urgent needs and rantings
of the newcomer
who doesn’t yet speak the language.
We will come to know her as
our protector;
our teacher;
our biggest fan;
our Mother.
She will teach us and learn from us.
She will lead us and chase after us.
She will hold us back and encourage us to move forward.
She will scold and fret and cheer us on from the sidelines.
Somewhere in the midst of life,
she will lose her own
Mother
and Father.
An orphan, she will move up
a branch
in the family tree
and get settled there.
For a time, we will allow ourselves to believe
that she will always be there,
one branch above,
watching over us.
But there will come a day when,
frail and weak,
she is unable to
perform any of the most basic
tasks needed for her survival.
In a life full of busy days
we will make room
for her to revolve
in our universe.
We will try to understand
the urgent needs
and frightened rantings
of this beloved stranger
who is losing the ability
to speak the language.
We will become her protector.
We will lead her
and encourage her to move forward.
Somewhere in the midst of life,
we will lose her.
We will become the orphan.
We will move up
a branch
in the family tree
and get settled there
and always remember
with gratitude,
the beautiful stranger
we came to call
Mother
Written in 2010 for my caregiver website, "Don't Lose Heart."
Copyright 2022 ©Jean Fogelberg
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