When will there be enough time
to satisfy a mother’s love,
her requests, her questions for me,
to listen, succeed ,and trust
in her hope for
the beautiful future of the family?

There are twelve in my family.
Our emotions mingle in shouts and whispers over time.
They are woven into an extraordinary tie of fellowship for
together we are a sonorous harmony of love.
I lived with this harmony, me
a single note in the complex symphony of trust.

My nine siblings are full of compassion, wisdom, and trust.
No matter the dissonance, we are a family.
But I began to wonder why my mom was so tired, Mom, please comfort me.
Don’t be tired, I will do my best every time.
Please just speak with the candor of love
and I will listen intently for

beyond the cancerous cough there is infinite wisdom. Nearly four
years since I thought the symphony of trust
could lose its conductor, a searing of solidarity and love.
My mother’s words echoed in my ears as each member of my family
played their instrument, but the music notes jumbled upon me.
I lost my rhythm, and time

escaped me. I wept because I thought time
was tantalizing me. I would play faster to see him waiting for
me to stumble and play a note to sharp because I had lost trust
in my once invincible mother who made such an extraordinary family.
But my mother still stands upon the podium, strong and bold, waving her arms and love,





unaffected by cancer, keeping rhythm, evaporating dissonance with love.
I heed her every guidance and time
does not taunt the music made by my family.
I will not wait for
fear to swallow me.
But hold my trust


in my family untouched by the worries time
may hold. For the strength of love
and trust will sing the music for me.