Ten years

 

Ten years ago today
the photo said
and I look and wonder
what was in her head

Those three kids are all
adult sized now
forging their paths
and making her proud

Ten years ago
there was hardly a whisper
of dementia or death,
Crohn’s or cancer

Her faith was solid,
she was active and working
no burnout, career change
or mental health lurking

She looks confident--
I recall she was stressed
keeping up appearances
feeling repressed

She had a few shake-ups
a gradual awaking
now she’s finding her voice
and she’s finally done faking.