(Originally published March, 2017, while visiting my mom in Arizona. – Owen)

arising early in the desert, i think about yesterday, and all its sister yesterdays

how naturally i fear what i don’t understand, and how i seem to understand nothing

my mother’s life, so limited now, by my accounting

her casual talk, both of enjoying her life – she lives in a luxurious place –

and of how people now live too long

she spoke of keeping pills she could end her own life with, if necessary

but the staff threw them out

and laughed

…

and as i sat there wondering,

“who is this woman?”

i saw on her face

that she was wondering

“who is this man who understands so little?

did i teach him nothing?”