Shirley's Smile

Posted by Jan Brown on June 26, 2009 at 12:15pm
Shirley’s Smile

At first, you held my hand and reassured me     that you wanted me there with Mike. Then you began your journey away from us.
After a few days of sitting with you amid tubes and beeps,     it occurred to me that you no longer knew my name. You seemed to claim it didn’t matter –     names aren’t as important as faces. So when you jerked yourself awake,     startled to once again be in a foreign place, I would say, “There, Shirley, it’s alright”     and then Mike’s gentle voice: “Keep your hands down, Mom.” But we didn’t want to chasten you     and it wasn’t alright.
We silenced our voices to match yours     and learned to talk with our eyes. The last time I smiled at you,     you smiled back. Mike saw the tenderness     you gave to me.
And then, an hour later,     you weren’t there,     disappearing into a space     we can’t yet see.
I will always remember     how your light blue eyes     relaxed into a relieved smile,     waving me goodbye.
Jan Brown

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