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Photo by Taylor Leopold on Unsplash

Poetry | May/June 2021

Legacy

By Shelia Cooper

Sometimes at night I look in on her, the light 
from the hall spilling across her angelic face. 
When she's sleeping, time turns. 
She is a child in my arms allowing me to stroke 
 
her hair. I wear tread marks in the old, wooden floors.
My hands scratching each other just like my mother's.
What will she inherit? Will she appreciate the sound 
of words strung together like clothes
on her grandmother's line? Armfuls of journals filled 
 
with words? I wear tread marks in the old, wooden floors
and pray that she never sees the inside of a place 
that removes the underwire from your bras 
and strings from your shoes. Threadbare blankets, crazy
 
looks. What will I leave as a legacy?
Locking, unlocking, and re-locking the same doors?
I pray and try to bargain with God as I scratch and
wear tread marks in the old, wooden floors.


9 replies on “Legacy”

Dalesays:
May 19, 2021 at 3:47 pm

Dope poem. Very deep. Imagery vivid.

Reply
Feliciasays:
May 19, 2021 at 4:41 pm

Every mother’s angst, prayer and hope for their very own “legacy”. Beautiful and heartfelt.

Reply
Andreasays:
May 19, 2021 at 5:07 pm

Heartfelt words from every mother’s heart. Beautiful and profound.

Reply
Michellesays:
May 19, 2021 at 6:15 pm

Beautiful poem. Mothers’ fears written out.

Reply
Gizelle Franklinsays:
May 19, 2021 at 11:14 pm

Beautifully written: visually alluring.

Reply
Raynasays:
May 20, 2021 at 7:02 am

Beautiful!

Reply
Ernie Careysays:
May 20, 2021 at 7:24 am

Beautiful

Reply
Quietstormsays:
May 20, 2021 at 9:40 am

Such a lovely write!

Reply
Oneysays:
May 23, 2021 at 7:14 pm

The heart of a mother….. so beautifully written.

Reply

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