A Reminder, Mom

The sun burns your skin,
The rain weakens your steps,
your clothes.
The wind tumbles your will, yet still,
you wake
to greet this new day.

*

You make it coffee or tea - 
whatever it likes.
Some days,
some years,
it does not 
return 
the favor.

With time,
you take what you get
and you get
what you
can take.

Grandpa Martin Vanderhof
was right
after
all.

*

Sipping,
you ask if the day needs
anything else.

No, they reply,
asking you
the same
question.

Like a lover
like an old friend
like a son, a daughter
a brother or a sister or a
father or mother;

each one and
every one 
connected,
and lucky,
oh' so lucky,
to live within it all
and all
within
you.