I screamed too much. Didn’t I.

You didn’t like father and I screamed. I screamed all through your life.

And you attended.

I wanted. You gave. Gave everything. ALL.

Straightened my collar. Set my tie.

Listened.

The ground I stand on. Is you. Don’t go. Don’t go.

Please stay. I love you.

The air I breathe. My doing. An end. I know an end. Don’t go.

Please stay.

If I ask politely will death not take you away. Will it?

Please death don’t take my mummy away.

Copyright Paul Brookes from 1993 Anthology ‘Rats For Love: The Book’, Bristol Broadsides.

My Mother died of Cancer in 1997, after a seven year battle. This is for her.