(based on a true story)

Her son stepped to the pulpit with

some papers in his hand.

He cleared his throat and thought a bit,

but would they understand?

Would they know who mom really was?

Would they know they had fun?

Would they know mom loved God and prayed?

Would they know all she'd done?

Would they know she was always poor,

her pain and all her crying?

Would they know she helped little ones

with smiles and hugs while dying?

He laid, then, all the papers down

and peered up into Heaven.

Inside his mind he edited

his words right down to seven.

Would seven words explain it all

and would those words prevail -

there in each heart describing mom

in intimate detail?

Now friends and fam'ly waited for

her son with eager ears -

as he concluded all his thoughts

while holding back his tears.

He took a breath and slowly spoke

until his talk was done.

"Ev'ryone loved mom, because,

[my] mom loved ev'ryone."

He noticed many sparkles flash,

in each and ev'ry eye.

He gazed down at the casket then -

and said his last goodbye.

©2015 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

-------