You taught me so many things over the years

Bits of trivia, odd and disconnected

From those rare moments

When we connected

And many lessons

In what not to do

When I swore to anyone who would listen

That I would not grow up to be you

I knew so little of grief

While you were still here

But since you left

I can’t count my tears

Previously, I was sympathetic

To those grieving

But I had no understanding

Of what they might be needing

I’d lost some relatives,

A friend, and others

But nothing could prepare me

For losing my mother.

A piece of me went with you

Leaving a perpetual ache

That you simultaneously filled

With a bit of grace

Now when I see someone

Experience death’s pain

I think of you

And this lesson again

I know they’ll have good and bad days

But the pain never ends

I just hope I can help lessen it

And be a better friend

Thanks, Mom.