Mother, I never let her see me cry

She was always there,
Strong and steadfast,
She took care of me every day,
Called me sweetheart,
And made sure I did my homework.
Then one winter it stopped.
The youth in her eyes I had never noticed,
Began to fade.
I didn’t think she would die,
But not knowing made me scared.
Now I was taking care of her.
I worried that if I didn’t do a good job,
Her sparkle might be lost forever.
I was afraid,
Afraid to go into her room,
Afraid that anything I did,
Might make her worse.
I cried a lot.
But never in front of her,
I never let her see me cry,
I never let her know how scared I was.
Every night I asked myself why,
Why would a woman so wonderful and selfless
Deserve this?
In time her life returned.
But every time I’m sick or just feel overwhelmed,
I remember everything my mother went through that winter,
And everything she goes through every day,
And I smile,
Because I am more grateful than she will ever know,
Even though I never let her see me cry.