She gives us the last of everything

I try and resist

When she gives me the last

Of everything

She always forces it on me

Promises me it’s okay

How can one be so selfless

Give everything up for her kids?

I ask for $10, she reaches in her purse

Her hand going into the black leather

Trying to hide the worry on her face

“I have 20, take it all”

I come home late

Walking through our sliding glass door

From practice looking for dinner

There is a plate in the microwave

I ask if she has eaten she says yes

She lies to me

Because I see her making something else when I leave the room

She gives me the last of everything she has

I cannot ask for a better mother

Her blonde hair, her being just so selfless and beautiful

Just the other day as we sit in the car

she says “I’m tired”

I say “go to sleep”

she says “not physically, just tired of IT”

IT…. l ask what “it” is

She says, “I’m tired”

Of being poor, not being able to eat with my kids, there isn’t enough food for me,

You guys come first

Hearing her say this hurts me

and l feel guilty, stare out the window, unsure of what to say

Lately I’ve been trying to go without so she can have more

but she always tells me “its okay”

I have never really cried because of painful emotions

I only cry from physical pain

Emotional pain is different

When I get home I finally let myself I cry

It hurts so much more than physical pain

My heart aches

I can’t breathe

How can I ever repay

Someone so selfless?