Mother's Day Roses and Silence

last year for mother’s day you gave me a bouquet of roses.

beautiful, red roses.

did I know then what I know now?

what you were saying to me with those petals.

I said you were just a bud

you were saying that you were a flower.

a red, ripe flower opening up and blossoming

to become a beautiful young woman.

and so you were.

just beginning to become a lady

young, fresh, fragrant - full of life, 

of love.

this year you will give me silence.

my heart torn open and bleeding

- red like roses.

like a blade of grass you rose up and then

evening came and all withered.

withered are the hopes and dreams

of children and family 

and a spouse.

I did not get to share these with you.

all turned upside-down, churned into chaos.

lost and broken

without any good-byes, I am sorry

forgive me, don’t cry.

I love you, don’t worry- are all unspoken

and how? and why?

I love you, too!

This is probably the most personal post I will ever publish on this blog.

As we approach Mothers Day, please remember and pray for all mothers who have lost a child.