114. MOTHER'S DAY 1952

114.

MOTHER'S DAY 1952

Like the set of a 1950s game show,

would you like to be queen for a day?

we made a throne for Mother,

covered an old Victorian chair

with a white cotton sheet,

edged it with her jeweled earrings

stuck into the upholstery

on tiny straight pins.

We fashioned a crown of cardboard

and shiny scraps of tinfoil,

gave her Father's old baton

for her scepter,

arranged enormous bouquets 

of wild plum blossoms and

purple lilacs throughout the house.

Seated on her throne

she was a mother like no other,

splendid, regal, graceful,

the four of us her adoring servants,

Ray, Joey, baby Mike and me.

Ray and Mike dead now, Joe in Memory Care.

I'm the oldest, the only one left, just me.

The keeper of the memories and traditions, 

the stories, photo albums, recipes;

all of it. Just me left to remember.

Just me. 

*comments welcome