The Cold Cave

The Cold Cave

By: Azza El Wakeel

When you had to leave

It was a hard moment for me

To close your eyes

Cover your body

Hide your smile

The dimples on both sides

Of your face

The hardest part was when

I had to leave you lonely

In your grave

I returned home after your funeral

To find our warm house

Turned to a cold cave

Cold like the marble

Engraved with your name

The house mourned you

In its own way, showed its grief

Even the walls and ceilings changed

Because of your absence

Became darker out of

Sorrow and sadness

Didn’t remain the same

The truth, mother

Nothing remained the same

In your last days you spoke

You’ll die soon

Asked me to be brave

Told me I wasn’t only

Your daughter but your sister

Your intimate friend

You too were more

Like a friend to me

Than a mother

My first reader

My biggest fan

By losing you I lost my balance

The only person I had to lean on

I was able to trust

I continue to walk

In my destined road

Like a dead corpse

Among other people

Who are living

Remembering how you were

Always caring, always forgiving

We are both dead

Our differences are

You lay asleep

I still can walk

You lost your voice

I still can talk

I kept all your belongings

I need them more than the poor

They keep my company

Provide me warmth

If I give them away

I’ll be left alone

A lifeless body, a helpless soul

Behind my closed door

I invite you to watch the video poetry of the poem

The Cold Cave

Azza El Wakeel