Mum’s the Word

Grammy died when I was sixteen
a surrogate mother as my biological one
worked 'round the clock

Irish, Catholic
she instilled both values and fear
a petite woman, fiercely passionate
about life, faith

I followed her coffin down the
church's aisle
numbed, speechless

Where's the peace in knowing
life after death?
I felt none

For this Matriarch,
mum's the word I learned
to adore

now in the Reaper's embrace