MOTHER-CHILD

I wonder--
at what point in life did this metamorphosis begin?
Or, have you not noticed, Mother,
that you and I are changing places.
You as my frightened mother-child.
Me as your concerned daughter-mom.

I felt a sadness in my heart tonight, Mother
when I saw you as you must have once been--
a frightened child.
And I realized at that moment more than ever before
that the reality of growing old is really growing young--
childlike again.

"Now, Mother," said I,
"I know you are going to laugh when I tell you this.
But if you should become frightened tonight,
why don't you pray for comfort and courage to stay alone?"

We both laughed and then turned away with tears in our eyes
in the awkward, embarrassing way.
"See, Mother, I knew you would laugh!"
"Well,--I'll try just about anything...."

I wonder--
is this the way that it was meant to be;
first you to care for me through my childhood
and now I to care for you again through yours?

(First time my mother stayed by herself after the death of my father. April 22, 1979)