"Like Strength," She Responded

"Like Strength," She Responded.

by Ainsley A. Cheng

"Like her mother,"
They all said.
She would smile
And nod her head.

"Like a child,"
They'd all say.
Yet, this was my,
My favorite look.
The quietest laugh
... Somehow the loudest
and the most cheerful -
I could hear it with my heart.

"Like home,"
But what is home?
Her pink shirt?
Children's play table?
Warm air blowing
From the air vent?

"Like beauty."
She brushed her hair.
"Better than the salon?
I watched them."
She closed her eyes
... And allowed her
To run the comb through
Her silvery roots.

"Like lost."
Her eyes,
Her eyes,
Unsure.

"Like hope."
She'd wonder,
Wonder,
and wait.

"Like a picture."
Perfect -
A snapshot to
Remember
Today,
Today,
Almost like
Yesterday.

"Like - no, is happy."
She was not ready
To go,
To go.

"Like patient,"
She waited, waited.
She didn't want time
To go, to go.

"Like forever."
Even as she knew
She'd see light
Again, again.

"Like love."
Always always -
She never gave up
Knowing that
Small words,
Gestures -
That's all
That was
Needed.

"Like goodbye."
But no -
Always
Until
Next time,
Next time.