Sad side of my mother's face
nurturing, warm, safe
and all light
once reflecting, gleaming
once shining, dreaming
once pure, white
once demanding flight
all light on my mother's face
dims to gray

and all patience remains gray
his word, he told me
did not fade- did not lose the light
his bed left unmade
he'd lost the fight
there was no change of tone
when she finally answered the phone

and all pain turns gray
her dream, she spoke
unbecoming beneath the smoke
floating through the atmosphere
until no more opportunities could appear
all days following
were discussed in gray

now he aches
she aches
the struggle to survive
the loss of time

he yells, she yells
denying of raised tones
more frequently hanging up phones
dry tears collect in the gray atmospheres
she cries, he weeps
somehow, somewhere their ends did not meet