Ruth

Her last good friend was not Jewish.
I’ve a picture of them playing Rummy,
Or at least attempting to play Rummy.
Mom is focused on winning.

Her last best friend is not white.
But the lady understood
That Mom had carried
A relatively benign racism into their relationship.

Mom had moved beyond those
Acculturated fears
Long before she died.
Veronica had become her friend.

In the minutes before she died,
Asked to wait for her children
Ruth gave a small head shake.
For Veronica she nodded.

Mom settled in Veronica’s arms
And, as a child comforted
By her mothers embrace,
Left us.