The making of a Mother
Is not only about the birth
It's more the light that shines so bright
That gives a Mother her worth

It's the wisdom in the knowing
The gentle guiding hand
That guards a child from the wild
How only a Mother can

It's the ear that gives a listen
To the secrets that she keeps
The value in the lessons
That only a Mother can teach

Being a Mom happens
Over the course of time
The most important job you can think of
On the side of life

It's the silence in the moment
When nothing need be said
The fact that she's a woman
That is there above all else

A Mother above all others
Is not only the one that gave you life
No, a Mom is the one
That stands strong by your side

Yesterday I headed west
I left the sea      gulls behind me
they cried    so did I
something strong was calling
me home   where sacred stones
are planted strong
with words carved deep
inside my heart
I'll plant lillies   lay a rose
tell my Mother   I am home
and my brother  and Dad too
I'm glad to see    they aren't alone  
as I turned away
I heard a bluebird say
Son, don't you come to stay
too long     for this earth is cold
when the winter comes 
the ocean's now your home
go breathe that warm breeze
until the sun no longer shines
and the eagle flies   the gulls
no longer cry    then you'll know
the time has come   for you
to climb aboard and sail away.

The change wasn't all that sudden
It didn't happen overnight
In fact I didn't feel a thing
Whether or not it was wrong or right

With a wrinkle here and a wrinkle there
A little off the top
What didn't fall out turned to gray
As my memory of it all was lost

All the mirrors I used didn't have a clue
Or in cahoots they didn't let on
If they had, not sure what I would do
Except *** along little dogie, *** along

I can no longer blame cloud cover
For the dimming that old age has made
Somebody's got my number
And is counting down the days

I'm sure in this I'm not alone
If I'm sure of anything
This is not a new phenomenon
In what the changes bring

I just hope my hearings well enough
When life hollars out last call
The change wasn't all that sudden
In fact I didn't feel a thing at all

The years add up
But you never truly forget  
Just cover it up
with leaves, some brush
an old sheet or blanket
A drive
a new route around
Sometimes an old box in a closet
or under a bed work fine
to hide the time

until the winds of seasons change
bare it all again

..and there's never any tissues around