I don’t have my mother’s eyes
I don’t have my mother’s nose
I do have a diamond ring and a Dali print
Mom bought on a cruise one time
that my brother thinks is worthless.

And I have a big bag of pills sitting in
the corner of a closet that I can’t
bring myself to look at or flush or take
to CVS for safe disposal. 

Mom’s medicine was meant to keep her
heart alive and keep her spirit strong
and keep her here with me.

She’s no longer here with me.
The pills stay in the closet.

~ Robin J. Phillips Feb. 18, 2020