hide my pain

"Soul of Steel", that's what she had, that's what she was to me. "Heart of Gold", shinning brightly, for all the world to see. Will to live, to love, to share, to be. Never a stranger did she know, without giving the gift that was her smile. Always a smile, for one and all. from her heart, from her soul. The smile that hides the pain, the world will never know. Health of the dying, slowly day by pain filled day. Slowly, painfully dying, year by month, week by weakness, till there was no more life left to die. Body of pain, deteriorating, disintegrating, retrogressive. Life's breath of life, to breathe the air, less and less, with each breath. Gasping, grasping for the breath, harder each one came, until the last, it was just too hard, the time, it was at hand. And I felt her spirit brush past mine as upon high it did ascend. And a tear of sorrow ran down my cheek, shed for the loss of a mother and a friend, and a tear of joy ran down my cheek, shed for the end to all her pain she left behind. And the world lost a beautiful person on that day, but her smile, it still shines on in my mind, and her memory still fills my soul. And she taught me of courage, and she taught me of strength, and to hide my pain behind a smile. And for the teaching and for the love, I take this opportunity to say, thank you Mom, and Happy Birthday. 1937 to 1993 Written March 17th, 2001 © on Oct 10 2001 05:55 AM PST   0 • 12 • 1