Mom, you sacrificed

a lot for me and 

all my older siblings. 

you slipped me around 

your soft silk 

African made sarong

after a long play day.

every time I heard 

the cracking of charcoal

and salty ocean air

whispering to me,

I knew it was 

¨̈that time of day¨

I would come quick 

riding my little red bike.

 You became the branch

 when I needed

 someone to hold onto

 so that I could bloom.

You became the umbrella 

when rain came down

In long knitting needles-

you starved

so we could eat.

You gave us hope, love and counselling

when we had no ambition

pushing us each 

and everyday

to have a strong

core and foundation.

When I was sick, 

you were the winter blanket

that kept me warm and fuzzy

just like a kangaroo

to its joey.

You put us first

before yourself

just as a good shepherd

to his sheep.