Mum

Always there

Until she wasn’t

The physical tangible memories nearly gone too

The mementos once so precious Losing their hold on me

Even photos are inadequate They capture just one moment in time 

Her life made up so many of my moments

Instead her presence is made known to me from what I see in us

When I sit in front of the mirror I see glimpses in my eyes and wrinkles

When I see my sister caring so deeply I see her love passed down

Her voice often echoes in my head, encouraging and wise

of course there was not perfection But that too is comforting

And down onto even another generation May they be as generous as their nanna

They remember ,if not clearly ,the time with her

Mostly they remember that they were her priority

I hope she wasn’t too lonely in those last years without her best friend, my dad .

I hope I carry the name of mum as well as she did.