Mother


Anything but a warm embrace- her words, her tone, I allow to gurgle through me like so many garbled voices crossing distant waters. Amidst the din, even her mask of blatant disapproval is rendered ineffective.

Weddings and funerals. It is what we had been reduced to. Even they grate on my already chaffed soul, as I anticipate the moments we will be forced to breathe the same air, smiling insufferably for the sake of appearances.

Blurred voices surround the wall of stone on which our ceaseless duel plays out. The silent precipice of no return. But no one seems to notice our stilted stances, or the fact we have worn our war faces to the party.

Then it hits me. This distaste we have for each other, may very well be the only thing we will ever share.. I savor the epiphany. Clutch it to my breast.

Much like I know there must have been a time, when she clutched me, her firstborn, to hers…

All but lost without
you. As are you without me.
But we know. Don’t we?

A Haibun/Haiku written under the influence of Colleen’s Tanka Tuesday, Misky’s twiglet, ‘voices crossing water’ and Go Dog Go Cafe’s Tuesday Writing Prompt: ‘blurred thoughts‘. All interwoven to surround Helene’s What Do You See Photo Prompt

36 thoughts on “Mother

  1. My own parental relationships mimic some of your drama. I have literally had my share of too many mothers. However, with the latest, and the last… we have reached an agreement of sorts – that other family members still try and ‘correct’.
    The business of relationships between two people are really no business of anyone else.

    Liked by 1 person

  2. You had quite the powerful epiphany, a painful and uneasy one to accept. You have such a gift for writing, your pain is so brilliantly expressed! I would love to be able to write with the eloquence you do! Beautiful, just beautiful Violet like you! ❤

    Like

  3. That’s me and my mom. Sort of. My biggest fear is that my daughter and I will end up like this. I frantically beat back the shadows everyday. Very successful piece of writing, honest, and speaks to so many people.

    Liked by 1 person

    • I am always touched by how many people share the sentiments of a difficult maternal relationship with me. Thank you for speaking up and letting both of us know we are not alone. Welcome, Jackie to this little corner of my world.

      Like

  4. It always breaks my heart when I see this type of “relationship” – having witnessed it with friends and family and their parents/families. It makes me ever so grateful for mine.
    So very well done.

    Liked by 1 person

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