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Photo by Roman Kraft on Unsplash

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All the Way
……..(inspired by Billie Holiday)

Stiffened smiles
lived in Kodak archives.

Commands of “cheese”
documented hidden potholes—
his mom’s parents took turns at the wheel.

Some pages had bent edges,
others retired from plastic spirals.

Some photo corners MIA,
others on their last grip.

He touched the photo of his mom—
innocence at the age of two.

She grew up to be an outsider—
a single mom taught to serve,
live for others, not for herself,
never draw outside the lines
or speak out of tune.

But she was his mom—
his redwood
amid maples & oaks.

His broken mom—
her infinite strength & love
deeper than the Atlantic & Pacific.

He touched the photo of himself—
innocence at the age of two.

Pre-selfie days
before bullies attacked his power.

He fought back—
went all the way
to the top of his class—
won a scholarship to NYU,
started his IT business,
survived the NYC lockdown.

He’d hum along to her favorite song,
Lady Day’s “All the Way,”
say to himself,
Thank you, Mom.
You were the tallest tree & deepest ocean.
Rest in power, Mom. Rest in glory.

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Patricia Carragon’s poem “Paris the Beautiful” won Poem of the Week from great weather for MEDIA. Her fiction piece “What Has to Happen Next” is nominated for Sundress Publications Annual Best of the Net Anthology. Her latest book from Poets Wear Prada is Meowku. Her debut novel, Angel Fire, was recently released by Alien Buddha Press. Patricia hosts Brownstone Poets and is the editor-in-chief of its annual anthology. She lives in Brooklyn, NY.

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Listen to the 1959 recording of Billie Holiday performing “All the Way” [Universal Music Group]

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