Left Holding the Gifts

My mother died

at the time that she got to be so old

that I had achieved my mid age

I was already holding

things she gave me in my left hand,

things I knew she had given me

Suddenly, when she died

coming at me was the weight of new gifts

I had to stop everything

to catch them with my right hand

My mother died

while I was already holding her gifts

both hands now so laden full

I was already holding

the old ones when suddenly they multiplied

with new ones yet to be opened

Jomarie Zeleznik

2013 March seven

for my friend Donna