echoes of my touch

“the silent voice of a mother”

another morning, cold and bare
your room still locked from night
i hovered near with steady steps
pretending things were right
your plate stayed full on the table
your bedsheets, folded still
look in your silence, my dear child –
echoes of my touch lie still

your laughter changed its colour
from sunlight into smoke
the spark behind your tired eyes
dimmed with every joke
you smiled so i wouldn’t worry
but your smile betrayed the chill
look in your silence, my dear child –
echoes of my touch lie still

your friends had slowly vanished
the calls, the doors, the noise
and even when you said “i’m fine”
it felt like someone else’s voice
i wished to reach and pull you back
but you were far beyond my will
look in your silence, my dear child –
echoes of my touch lie still

i found the note you didn’t write
torn halfway through the end
how can a mother fight the dark
you never let her comprehend?
the medicines stayed untouched again
by the windowsill…
look in your silence, my dear child –
echoes of my touch lie still

and now they say you’re healing slow
they say your mind just broke
they try to fix you piece by piece
but they don’t feel you choke
but i remember every heartbeat
i remember every thrill
and if you ever look behind –
you’ll find my shadow standing still

you may not speak, you may not smile
you may not know your name
but even if the world forgets
i’ll love you just the same
so if the dark should rise again
and bend you to its will
look in your silence, my dear child –
echoes of my touch lie still