mother
hands
open
arms
outstretched
screaming
into camera
blood stained
children's booties
body parts
anger
rage
inestimable
uncontrollable
unquenchable
grief
II
they've
taken
her
children
away
because
they said
she was not
a good mother
a whore
a junky
a failure of
the human race
a child
that once
ran
with a flower
in her
hand
III
someone
sent me
a photo
not
thinking
it was
real
of a suicide
landing
vertically
from the
40th floor
on
concrete
it is real
I still cannot
sleep
for seeing
her
11/11/2006
Author's Note: This triptych of motherhood is dedicated to Gaza, to Lou Reed (who 40 years ago helped opened my eyes and still does so) and to those who speak of suicide too lightly.
Peter, I'm apt to agree with the previous comments. Difficult to handle poetically, but the
triptych diagrams the subject well. Agree with you about Reed, too. He's a fascinating/brilliant/tragic icon. Thanks.
