Auburn curls waltz in my eyes, flames in my earliest memories.
I remember most parts fondly.
Matching blue eyes, struggles inherited
from your mother.
We struggled existing
as the proper mother and daughter.

We never struggled to love,
simply struggled to agree on how to.
A first time mom, a first time daughter,
we were never perfect
and never easy.

You raised me to never be easy,
but your mother raised you to be her.
I am older now, so are you.
I will keep getting older,
you’ll stop.

I have to stop
fighting so I can soak up our time.
We grew up together,
learned from each other-
how to be better. We are.

I take your precious energy, your time,
life,
blood,
sweat,
tears,
yet with everything taken,
you manage to find more to give.

My everything,
my mother.