momma

she struggles for the next word
and fills in the pauses with that kind of thing
and the bottom line is
i feel nervous and i scramble to think it through
what did she see what did she read
can i connect the broken pieces again
and i wonder if she realizes what is happening

she worries about her dad and her crazy brother
the upcoming election
the upkeep of her yard
and how she is going to paint her ceiling
but the stories are full of holes
vague wandering confusing

and i worry
how can i help her
how do i tell her what i see what i hear how i feel
i want to shelter her protect her
listen through the pauses
patient
calm
fill in the blanks patch the holes in her stories
in her memory