Mother's Lament

MOTHER'S LAMENT

The letters come one after another

None are good, but how could they be

He betrayed himself

And in so doing, removed his presence

And my mother's heart aches

Day-in, day-out

The ever-present knowledge that he is not here

He is there

Somewhere that exists only in my nightmares

But he is living it

My precious boy, starting out so shiny and beautiful

Now in an unimaginable hell

Every sad occurrence is even sadder

And every joy watered down

Josh, I cannot know your suffering

But I know mine

And to be cognizant that you do suffer

Screams in my brain every single day

I need to get to you, I need to help you

And I can't and no amount of money could

So I turn to the only One who truly knows your heart

And mine

And gives me comfort and hope

Extinguishes the fiery darts of Wisconsin

I hope, I break down, I sob

I wait.