SATURDAY POETRY

The Hidden Blessing of the Unexpected

Unexpected emotions and unexpected Love, Mercy, and Hope

Created in Canva by Nancy Blackman

last week she couldn’t speak
the mother who told me
she wished I was never born
the mother who
called me stupid and fat and other adjectives
the same mother who
also wrote in my baby book that
my crowning glory
would be to become Miss Universe

but would it be mine?

that day, I showed up
for the woman who couldn’t speak
the woman who had a stroke

she stood in front of me
as I blocked the door
waiting for the ambulance
as she beat my chest with her fists
and screamed a stroke-slurred “no, no, no!”
I stood blocking the door
because she wanted to leave
and walk out the door
to go who knows where
in her stroke-infused thoughts