Poetry by Laurie Didesch
For my Mom
The radiant light intensifies the blue sky. It filters
down from on high. Baby Mama and I are walking
through the kaleidoscope of colors. Baby Mama
stops awestruck. With hand to mouth, she points
to a fiery maple tree and a sunburst locust with
golden leaves. Excited, she declares, I’ve never
seen such beauty. What has happened to these
trees? The day is bright and clear in contrast to
her memory. But this moment offers a glimmer
of hope that all is not lost. Baby Mama can still
experience wonder—the pure simple joy of a
child in a moment of discovery. She reminds
me that regardless of our plight, we can still
celebrate life. We rarely stop to notice the new
in every moment. She sends a message despite
her dementia. We need only look with fresh
eyes to experience delight. However, I still
mourn her illness and it’s devastating effects.
Baby Mama and I head home. We both have
a skip in our steps knowing that the mist some
times lifts and gives us a glimpse of eternity.
Laurie Didesch has poetry appearing or forthcoming in Ibbetson Street, The Comstock Review, The MacGuffin, California Quarterly, Third Wednesday, Young Ravens Literary Review, The Ravens Perch, and Stone Poetry Quarterly, among others.
