when it's time

for my mother

Jacob dreamt and
      saw the stairs to paradise;
Dante walked through hell
    to find his Beatrice;
But not even Moses could
    cross the Jordan
          in one life time.

Every heartbeat
    leads
          somewhere

Across the trackless
    sands of infinity––
          the ice fields
between the stars.

We don't know
    where we're going
but we're never lost.

God cast the
    invisible forces that
hold us together––
    hurt and fear
       anger and misunderstanding
          attraction and affection
the fleshy bonds of passion.

We are never far apart
    in this life or
          any other.

Before you were born
    you were part of
         your family––
after you're dead
    you're forever re-
united.

Certainly you're mortal
    but that's only one aspect
of your immortality.

Whatever we do––
    love surrounds us.

Love breathes us in and out
    and fills our souls
          with light.

When you are gasping
    in pain,
when the anguish seems
    too much,
love is holding you
    in her arms and
          kissing you.

And when you finally
    fall asleep crying
love will tiptoe
    into your room
to gently stroke your hair
    and wake you up
          with sunshine
when it's time.