Want to hear a story about an older woman; she was barely making enough money supporting two.

Everyday she worked at the grocery store, coming home hoping there was nothing to do.

Her son was there all day lying around, leaving when she walked through the door.

The house would be messed up; she wished he would care a little more.

The only time they got to speak, was when he came home from the bar.

But he wouldn’t listen to his mother, taking his yelling sometimes too far.

She still let him stay, for she could never make him go,

After all he was her boy, and she loved him more than he'll ever know.

Little did she know just what her son was doing, when he'd leave every night?

He was taking small items of hers to pawn, knowing it wasn't right.

He stopped drinking to show you he could, he's not worthless as he may seem.

Finding a new habit only worse, making his visions only a pipe dream.

Bills got higher rent didn't get paid on time; she was getting older and needed some rest.

He did nothing but get high, and ask for money all the time plus stealing from her jewellery chest.

She opened her eyes when she walked in on her son, in his room needle in hand.

Turning around walked away never saying a word, it wasn't what she planned.

Tears filled her eyes from not expecting that, for to her he was still her baby boy.

The son died the next day, but she would never know.

He simply ran away, and she didn’t know when or where he had to go.

Now here’s a mother who still cries every night, before she goes to sleep.

She missed her baby boy starlight, but the years as a child are the memories she chooses to keep.

Susanne M Martinez