Illness

Mum has leukaemia

She is always tired

Though she battles on

It’s so easy to see

This other human being

This other, darker mum that hides

Though she smiles, tries

I see inside her: her eyes betray

That tiredness

That feeling: hopelessness

What? Complacent she is not!

She’s always been the strong one

Always had to be

Since we nearly lost dad

Way back in 1993

A brain aneurism

Almost stole him away

I understand her too

For that’s how I felt

When I had chronic anaemia

That worn out: lifelessness

That exhaustion…

Took its toll

Not enough red blood cells

No energy within

Nothing to call upon

Energy gone…

Even breathing was a chore

So as I look and see

She is feeling

Exactly as I was

Yes exactly like me!