Mom

The plywood groaned beneath her knees

Cold wind cuttin’ through the trees

That dog house wasn’t built for her

But this old world don’t care no more

Cigarette box and a needle inside

Not for a high, just a quiet goodbye

A picture, a drawing, a red handprint

Pieces of love that came and went

In the dog house, out in the cold

She carried a weight too heavy to hold

Whispered, “Lord, I swear I tried”

Then she closed her eyes… and let it slide

She once had a ring, a small little home

Three pair of shoes by the front door alone

But bottles and powder, they took it away

Left her with ghosts she fights every day

She talked to the moon when nobody cared

Prayed for a hand, but nobody was there

So she held on to scraps of the love she had known

And carried her children wherever she’d go

Her mama once told her, “Girl, be strong”

But the nights kept dragging her soul along

She fought with her demons, but they wouldn’t quit

Each wound she carried was a brand that fit

In the dog house, out in the cold

She carried a weight too heavy to hold

Whispered, “Lord, I swear I tried”

Then she closed her eyes… and let the plunger slide

She thought of the kitchen, the radio on

Her babies laughing at some old song

Those nights of fire still burned her chest

But the years since then stole all the rest

She carried the shame like a sack of stone

Tired of walking this world alone (kids whispered) mom it’s okay, sleep tight we will see you soon