She sought dreams, deferred
for children as they grew,
moved through early time
and space as if she never knew
that days could come and time
could go and dreams slip far away
her purpose came in rituals
for veterans where they play
at watering hole for memories
when soldiers' lives turn gray
and her own youth, she would recall
she also served, and then
uniform turned wedding gown
and girlish dreams again
for mother's many stories
lost their lives in daily grind
stories birthed for children's dreams
no longer in her mind
and mariner's deadly aim
of albatross and kubla khan
became our nightly game
her dreams oft never manifest,
though love she had was true
followed from ten thousand lakes
from sea to ocean blue
to end her dreams in desert nights
and winter's midday sun
with stories tucked inside her heart
for a new life soon begun
(c)13 May 18 Mother's Day
