Sestina

She sat with stooped shoulders a
Wondering if he still found her worthy. b
After several years, their bond was broken. C
She thought she had given her all as a mother. D
She couldn’t deny that something was lacking e
Even after all these years of being together. F

She began to wonder about the meaning of together.
Emotions swept through her and her shoulders
Began to shake. Why didn’t she see what was lacking?
Her children deserved more. They were worthy
Of a comforting family and stable mother.
It was because of them that she felt broken





By her decision. So many hearts would be broken
If she chose not to stay together.
And she could never escape being a mother.
Just then a tiny hand touched her shoulders.
Here was her child standing behind her—worthy.
It was in herself that something was lacking.

The young child stared at his mother. A child lacking
The knowledge of why things may become broken
And why some people are just not worthy
To know the meaning of the word together.
He felt the trembling of her shoulders
And quickly embraced his mother.










It wasn’t fair for a child to see his mother
in this way. His embrace rescued something she felt lacking
from her for sometime. His hands on her shoulders
woke her to reality. She left her broken
memories for a moment to be together
with her son, and she told him he was worthy.

Again she began to wonder if he found her worthy
To stay here with them and remain a mother
Of a family that didn’t know the meaning of together.
A family that only thought something was lacking
Because a family without a father must be broken.
It was a heavy weight to bear on her shoulders.

She embraced the child while lacking
Hopes of knowing what together meant for a mother
Of a broken family and a worthy child at her shoulders.