Signs in my bodily landscape

First came the tears of desperation

then a solid bar of pain

out of the blue

across my back

at the height of the heart

and my right shoulder blade

frozen

and my tummy swollen

and hollow 

and full

These are the signs in my 

bodily landscape

across the ocean

across the seas

across the snowy mountain tops 

and across the layers 

my love for my mother

is indescribable 

I love her

her face fallen

and sometimes illuminated

the face of the little girl she was

clear blue eyes

a softness and gentleness

and grace 

beauty

that is my mother