Lighthouse

When I was small you said to me…

“Let your light shine my son”

My constant reply …

“Ever a beacon in the night”

As I grew I came to understand

You were that beacon in my night

My lighthouse on the shore

……….

Now …

Daily I sit by your side … watching

As slowly your light dims;

Fading away into darkness

Awaiting that final breath

When my guiding light is forever extinguished

As the flame of your candle is blown out

By that chill night wind

……….

Reaching out, I touch your hand…

The hand that once held me up

Supporting me in moments of weakness

Soothing away my worries

Chasing monsters from neath my bed

Caressing my fevered brow

When illness was onset…

……….

You …

Always my rock

The foundation upon which I built

You …

Always there to point me the way

With a stern finger

Ensuring my path was straight and narrow

Sometimes with a gentle prod

Other times with a firm smack

But always with love

……….

Your hand, once so strong,

Now gnarled, arthritic

Yet still hiding a surprising strength

As you grip my hand in your sleep…

My thumb rubs swollen knuckles

Knuckles that I gleefully watched

Kneading the dinner bread…

Knuckling my cheek with silent pep talks

Kneading the kinks from my soul

……….

You watched as my light blossomed

Encouraging me to shine…

You read me bedtime stories …

Knights in shining armor…

Kings in a castle perilous…

Monsters in the shadows

Which you would then laugh away

……….

As I grew and began to write my own story

You were the patient editor

Correcting the flaws in my narrative

Ever available with suggestions

For improvement or change

Praise for a life well written

Corrective criticism for the weak points

……….

Without you I would be nowhere

Cast adrift on the rocks…

So here I sit

Leaning on the crumbling structure

Of an almost abandoned lighthouse

Watching as my guiding light dims

Praying for a miracle

……….

Your eyes open …

You look at me …

Seeing the anger, the pain, the frustration

You smile wistfully …

Your wrinkled hand reaches back

A final caress on my cheek

As your light goes out:

Your final words

“Let your light shine my son”

Mine to you …

“Ever a beacon in the night”

…

I love you Mom