Mom

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 friendship.

Mom moved beyond
Those acculturated fears
Long before she died
Veronica was her friend.

If most are victims of their time and place
Mom rose above her comfort level
Choosing “practical”.
Translation: this works for me.

In the minutes before she died,
When asked to wait for her children to come
Ruth gave a small head shake.
But for Veronica she nodded.

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