Early Mother’s day

By Dale Conour

My mom’s in the hospital

She was helicoptered from the coast to a larger city hospital for surgery after a couple of crazy-ass EKGs

My mom’s in the hospital

And I’ve spent a few days here seeing people wheeled in and wheeled out (including one covered head to toe by a green cotton blanket)

My mom’s in the hospital

And it’s probably been the most quality time I’ve ever put in with her

My mom’s in the hospital

And I’m thinking that no matter how old we get or how independent we feel or how mature we become or how many kids of our own we have or how gosh sorry just so busy we get or how little we call our mother

That when you write

My mom’s in the hospital

You become one of those people who have had the meaning of Mother shoved in their face

She was our gateway from nothing to something, from the ether to life

And it might seem like they cut that cord

But when they say each and every one of us is all alone in this great big universe they’re wrong because we’re not really alone

until our mothers are gone

My mom’s in the hospital

But this time, I get to take her back home

Let’s stay in touch.