Before You Leave Today

(song for our mom’s (Eileen) funeral 2003)

Before you leave today

You’ll stop by the garden

and breath in all the yellows and greens

tell us we’re pretty

we brighten the city

the best you’ve ever seen

before you leave today

you’ll ask how we’re doin’

hopin’ we’re ok

and weathering all storms

you’ll have turned down our beds

and found another blanket

that together with your smile

will keep us warm

‘cause that’s just who you are mom

a gently hand that pulls music from guitars mom

a strong heart

to encourage things to be

find simple tunes

and set them free

in the days ahead

when we need to reach out for ya

we won’t pine to some distant star

we’ll look in our gardens

at the yellows, reds and greens

flowers you’ve planted

deep

in who we are

mom