Their Mother Was the Light of the Family
The yahrzeit candle burning in a tiny glass
had been lit at sundown in her memory.
The flame threw shadows around the kitchen,
reflected light gleamed against the stainless appliances.
Gone twelve years, she had held them together—
all accepting, all understanding, all forgiving.
Differences and squabbles disappeared in her presence.
She spoiled them for other relationships in their lives.
There came a time when the light in her eyes
began to dim, throwing shadows on the pages
she strained to read. Book readers with larger print
and brighter light became ineffective.
Her skies began to darken like a brewing storm,
her love of reading stolen, she never complained.
They grew to understand no one held a candle to her,
too late to bestow enough appreciation.
*
Lois Perch Villemaire is the author of “My Eight Greats,” a family history in poetry and prose. Her work has appeared in such places as Blue Mountain Review, The Ekphrastic Review, ONE ART: A Journal of Poetry, and The Ravens Perch. Anthologies, including I Am My Father’s Daughter have published her memoir and poetry. She was the winner of the Haiku Challenge in Pen in Hand July 2023. Lois lives in Annapolis, MD, where she volunteers at the local library, researches family connections, enjoys fun photography and doting over her African violets.