to mom

this is august 22nd, date of birth
hands wrapped around a finger
red cheeks and tiny feet
here's where we meet and say
hello, i have been waiting for you


this is playgrounds and swing sets
fingerprints in paint and clay
saying if you believe, you can
and i believe, but i'll never swing high enough
to lose sight of you


this is being on the back of your bike and
weaving through blossoming trees
lying in grass fields that go on forever
a board game between us
to get lost in


this is white ceilings and childish fears
holding me tightly in the dark
because when i'm with you
the monsters shrivel up and
the demons hide away


this is boulevards and smelling the sea
feet propped up on the dashboard
and we might not find the answers today
but at least we can say
we went looking


this is the smell of grass and mint tea
car rides with the windows open and the radio on
i don't know this song and that’s okay
because it tunes out the world and
it's just you and me now


this is hospital beds and frustrated tears
refusing to be defeated by a downpour
and you may not carry a sword
but i've learnt that maybe warriors
don't need weapons after all


this is a long winding road, they say
the path to recovery is a hard one
but we both know you were always made
to climb steep hills and not once
have i seen you stumble


this is convicted nods and understanding
when my chest is frozen and my legs are locked
you lighten the frost, inch by inch
don't need to say anything to melt me
back to where i was before


this is good days and bad days
where my bones fight my every move
and a devil perches on the top of your spine
but i can turn the heat up for you and light the candles
and for a moment we can pretend it's perfect


this is turning the key and being home
here’s where we meet and say
hello, i have been waiting for you
and maybe we’re a little cracked
but i wouldn’t have it any other way



this is being a mother, a best friend
this is je t'aime, i love you
you're a better teacher than you think