Dear Mom

I used to jump off the bridge
Out at the ‘Sades
With my friends with whom
I drank and smoked

I’d sneak out in the middle
Of the night and wander around
Town avoiding the cop sometimes
Even hiding on the drugstore roof

I didn’t drink at all in high school
Except that once
And you found out about that
But I did cut loose in college

I let my hair grow long
And I wore terrible shirts
All of these
Not displaying my true self

But you knew who I was
And loved me all the same
Through my highs and lows
As if nothing ever changed

You taught me lessons
Big and small like
The difference between
“Like I said” and “As I said”

You taught me how to take a teasing...
Even though we teased you
When you couldn’t spell “tease”
I guess you led by example

​I was so lucky
To have you as my mom
I do my best to keep you alive
In my heart and in my memory.