My Mother’s Last Day
it was drizzling
the ground cover lining the 15
green, drenched, tightly closed,
as if beginning to mourn with me
when I’m sure
my mother would have
preferred clear skies
the night the doctor said
that family should come now
we thought we were losing her
just like my mom to leave me
with the weather of my choice
rather than her own
even on her last day
but it turned out not to be her last day after all
her real last day was more
to her liking: a warm sunny day
with bright pink and orange flowers
dotting the ground cover
edging the 15 freeway