turn my mother into a luxuriant garden of snow
creamy-white jasmine and roses grow white
the fullest of sounds come deep from within
like fruit in the stone

turn my mother into chameleons two without eyes
green he gambled and stroked the chest
she'd curled towards him, deepest red
so something beautiful might arise

turn my mother into a cathedral of light in a box
in the morning lift up the wooden lid and listen
to the many-voiced mass that begins
a celebration of loss

turn my mother into the same girl but iron
raise her this time with more powerful blows
console her or teach her some smart magic spells
because in this body she's dying