mama.

I have been transfixed by the brave veracity of my mother.

Old photos of tall hair and gummy grins,

The brightest shades of blue and the warmest of skin.

She has always had a scent to her,

One of snapdragons and chili pepper seeds.

One I can trace in the middle of the desert, in any room, in any sea.

I have always been fascinated by the way that she moved, yet always stood still.

A sturdy embrace I could hold

And lay my head down in.

A soft force that could make your bones rattle.

Because if the world ever messed with my heart, she always stepped in.

You’d remember the storm in her eyes, not a word spoken.

I am older now and I am still so sure

That I’ve been blessed by the moon and the stars

To bear witness to a space that she’s in.