She
Stands
Centre Frame
In a picture
Up on my wall

She has always been there.

Watching me grow
From  giddy girl
On her first adventure
To this silent
Woman
Sitting still
Beneath her.

forever weighs upon her
the seconds stop
the hours never end
the days never come
the night
prison
fathers blind devotion
boyfriends lazy love
girlfriends fickle betrayal
the night
is all
she ever knew

and with that
in the dark
she can claw all she wants
at the earth
or the air
light will never warm her face
she would never
dance in those rays
and the day will never greet her
For the night
is all
she knows.

Many years pass
Many lost memories
Giddy girl I once was
To this silent woman I am now.

I've looked upon this picture for answers
Hoping she could guide me

But the portrait
of this
stranger
my mother

Only
ever
watched.