Guarding Mother
By Esther Altshul Helfgott

I will
guard her
against
all harm.

I will
watch her
until
my eyes run
dry.

I will
swab
her mouth
with a
saliva stick.

I will
hold
her hands
until
warmth
comes.

I will watch
her
breathing
until
it
stops.

Even then,
I will watch.

Originally published in Spindrift 1996