Mama
I’m calling this
1000 Tears
Purple for me
Green for you
In remembrance
Of an uneasy life
Of suffering
That outweighed
The good times
Of a resigned
Acceptance
Of racist whites
Of forced pregnancy
Of domestic violence
Of religious hypocrites
Of gender inequality
Of poverty…of addiction
I would have saved you
If I could have
God knows I tried
Planned Parenthood
Domestic Violence Shelters
Al-Anon
And I know
I disappointed you
In my choice of men
But at least
They never beat me
Or tried to kill me
And I couldn’t sing
Couldn’t carry a tune
You had a beautiful voice
I remember you humming
As you cooked
While sporting a black eye
You were proud of me
Becoming a nurse
And having a sharp mind
That matched yours
And raising my child
On my own
And you admired
My “fearlessness”
When fighting the Establishment
Even if it meant
Changing jobs…again
And you liked
That I listened
To a different drummer
And painted outside
The lines
That you painted within
Well Mama
It’s all you
Fighting to free you
To try to save you
Saved me…freed me
Thank you—I miss you.
bjb 2025
barb j beyers 