Cycles – mothers and sons
My grandmother’s son,
tender seven, angry seven
mourns his mother
memory fades to the
barest image of a hug.

My mother’s sons,
lives of emotion turmoil
and pain
for lack of your nurturing.

My son
hope of my heart
broken cycle of pain
joyous laughter
yet still an angry man in hiding.

Help me, Shechina
kiss away the pain
hug away the hurt
nurture away the confusion.

(1997)

Ellen Irving is the pen name of a single mother-student at Santa Monica College who is majoring in English.