Yesterday was the last time I got to look at my moms face, a person I so loved that words can not express. All the tears I shed are selfish because life is hard to imagine without her.  Here is a effort at poetry that probably breaks all rules but it is heartfelt and made me appreciate all my mother was, even more:

My Mothers Hands

I like to think of my mother's hands

when they were young

How her fingers would intertwine

with my dad's hands

Her left hand on the day

My dad placed a ring on her finger 

And promised to love her forever

And he does.

Her hands prepared his food

And washed his clothes

And gave love without end

Her hands helped to build

The house they lived in

And made that house a home

Those gentle hands greeted us

As we came into this world

And we came to know the touch of love

Her hands fed us, washed us and

Changed our diapers

They encouraged us to walk

Into her ever open arms

Her hands hugged us

When we needed love

Corrected us when they needed to

Tenderly they touched our fevered brow

Soothing away our discomfort

I wonder how many meals they cooked

Or the number of dishes and 

clothes they washed

Her hands cleaned our home

Working their entire life

I never remember a complaint

When I think of those hands

How much they gave

I am amazed

Now I think of those hands

Aged with time

They will never reach out to me

Again on this earth

In my heart and mind

They will always touch me

with the memory of their love

when I die and leave this earth

Those hands will once again

Gather me into her arms

Then will my heart be whole again