Clean Sweep

Whilst she crouched on the floor,

Sweeping crumbs by the drawers

That her mother had left

The remains of digest.

She huffed and she blew,

Making anew, the red carpet.

She was tired and dimmed

And was wearing quite thin.

At the beck and call of her mother

She had nursed,

She had fed,

She had clothed,

Her instead. She had lifted and lowered

As no other.

She had cared well for the woman

Who had cared well for her.

And she frequently wished she had

Brothers.

She was passing out daily

In the quest to do good

She was self pressurising

A slave to the ‘should’.

But in that there were moments

She stood up empowered

She spoke up for herself

She spoke up quite loud

As if her own Ally,

She changed ‘should’ to ‘would’

She stated her feelings

She stated her words

She was still being treated

Like a little girl

Taught to help, and always to care

For all those around her

To love and to share

This was all very well,

She had kept up this act.

But on this occasion

Her mindset, it snapped.

Her mother’s heart was better,

Her mother was new

But was taking advantage

Of all that she’d do.

Enjoying assistance and bossing about

Living through her daughter

And hardly ever going out.

She was depending too heavily,

And leaning too much

Taking for granted her daughter’s

Loving touch.

Love and care should comprise

Of give and of take.

But on this day, she sensed

Resentment and some hate.

She vowed to stop,

Her work was done.

Nearly three years of moons

And suns.

She was angry,

She was shaking,

She was strength in the making.

She’d feel guilty,

She’d feel shame,

But she couldn’t continue to play

This game.

And in time the mother moved out,

And the daughter let go.

The unravelling began, where

She went no one knows.

Off the rails for a while

But when it all played out

The mother got help with

Official clout.

She got her own flat,

Clean and bright and new.

Carers came in bringing

Food, providing glue.

She got helpful meds

That evened her out

Less ups and less downs.

And visitors about.

She was loved by many

She had many friends.

Their relationship mended

Revived and restored.

And the daughter learned

Her lesson that she deserved

More.