Mother at the End of the Line

Her afternoon begins

with a long shower

she's still able to accomplish

The towels have been warmed

above a heated register

Their first touch to skin

reminds her of another touch

someone who once loved her

The next hour is for her hair

brushing and combing

getting it just right

creating the bun in the back

she always wore

but today seems important

that she spend some extra time

to get every hair in its place

Her glasses help her eyes

stare into a magnifying mirror

on a stand by the sink

as she applies her makeup

Her eyebrow pencil

needs to be sharpened

and she calls for it to be

just so

Foundation lipstick eyeliner

all placed with extra care

Then one final look

though her thick glasses

as she puts on her rings

that sat in the cloisonné dish

on the right of the sink

Next her finest black pants suit

with the fringe on the sleeves

the zipper on the back

of the shirt

Again she calls for help

Sitting on the edge

of her large king size bed

where she sleeps on the side

she's slept on for years

one leg at a time

her wrinkled legs

enter each column of crepe

much as an actress

gets ready for her close-up

She directs the helping hands

to reach into the top drawer

of a walnut Karges dresser

to find the gold bangles

for her arms

the green silk scarf

for her neck

then to reach

into the bottom drawer

for the thick round green

bangles for her ankles

“My black heels, please.”

The first thought begins

to form that something

is not right

“Are they arriving yet?”

she asks.

“Who, Mother?” you reply

“Why, my guests, of course.”

“What guests?”

“For the party.”

There is no party

and hasn't been for years

It's just another night

after long nights

when you sit with her

eating dinner in front

of the television

changing channels

to her favorite shows

There is no party for Mother

“There is no party,” you say

Her face betrays a micro-shock

Her mouth opens

as her face turns sad

from the excited anticipation

of the entire day

as tears well in her eyes

“Then bring me my slippers.”

The “stars” dance

on a glowing screen

just for Mother

at her party

at her party

at the end of the line

Barry G. Wick