Mother and her dead child

Mother and her dead child

Death has taken you

Nothing in my embrace 

Can breathe life back into your body

Conflicting feelings fill my heart

Love, loss and anger colour my vision of you

But you are cold like the darkest winter night

Cold and unresponsive

I scream inside but my lips emit no sound 

I rage inside but my anger does not show 

I weep inside but my eyes are dry

I die with you but I am still alive

Aching limbs squeeze your limp lifeless body

Tired lips kiss your icy stiffened neck

I pull you in as if to merge our souls and spirit

But alas your soul has already departed

You have left me

I am alone

Mike O'Leary - November 2014

A response to an etching by Kathe Kollwitz. 

Written at a workshop given by Chris Tutton.