motherless,
is who,
to society,
i am.
it's on my centrelink forms,
it's written on my face,
it's why my teachers pity me.
but i never get to be,
me,
rosie.

motherless,
is what i've been,
since the candles,
fleetingly glowed,
and i made a wish not to lose those i loved,
as i turned,
16.

motherless,
the things that happened for me to receive this title,
killed me,
and,
killed her,
too.
the whole world,
without her,
has turned cold and blue.

motherless,
has poisoned my whole world,
my whole being, whole gravity,
whole soul has been overturned.

motherless,
is what now consumes me,
and has,
painfully,
since i turned 16.