Wherever Did Our Mother Learn The Skills
To Drink Her Life So Fully To The Lees?
And How, Despite Her Battles With Disease,
Did She Maintain The Smiles, Dismiss The Ills?
She Kept A Photo Of Herself By Her Bed.
A Young Girl Sitting With Her Dog Smiles Out
And Waits To Learn What Life Is All About.
She Looks Expectant, Shows No Sign Of Dread.

At Night, While Her Gnarled Body Slumbered On,
She Frolicked With Her Childhood Dog Till Dawn.