Is That Her?

Dedicated to my mother- Anna Sue Ward Tollman

The soothing music like salve on my heart

It melts over the open spaces

Fills them in

So I can cry for a little while

It’s just a little mother bird chirping

To let her babies know she’s is flying away

But will return with food

When they hear her voice

They know everything will be okay

Last night I longed to hear the mama bird

But she has flown away

To a higher tree

So distant that I can’t hear her voice

I strain and turn my head sideways

Cup my hand around my right ear

To pick up a faint note that might be hers

Someone’s singing and strumming a sweet sound

The rhythm and tone cover my heartache

I feel my being swell, nearly burst

There it is, hear it?

Shh, listen

She’s singing to me

I lay my head on the pillow

And fall asleep