Mikaela Castledine #195 Credo

Credo

For my mother who art in heaven

My mother believed in God, the Father Almighty,

creator of heaven and earth

She believed in her Mary and her Jesus

and in St Anthony for finding    

She believed in feeding the hungry

and in the miracle of the curry and the rice

In the filmy lick of homemade mango ice cream

The sweet tingle of pressed lemon cordial

In milo in milky coffee in condensed milk toffee

She believed in elephants to carry you to safety

In feeding magpies for their song

In the comfort of dogs

In walking the railway line in sun and shade

and sleeping in front of the television

She believed in the power and the glory of art

In the strength of her hands in the clear vision of her eye

She believed in friends and she believed in family

She believed in Hugh in his capacity and his intellect

in his ability to fix anything and to hold her hand until the end

She believed in her grandchildren and all their potential

and she believed in the four of us -  her children

In our infinite capabilities and in always having something to fall back on. 

For a long time she was the thing we fell back on and then as she got older we became that support for her

I believe in my mother

She gave me these hands this head this heart

She taught me how to find the balance between artist and mother long before I was either

She trusted me with these last years of hers

it wasn't an easy decision for either of us

and for me at least it was

equal parts burden and joy exasperation and comedy tears and delight

I am sad and I am sorry  bereft and relieved

and will think of her always with such love

and thank her often for all that I would not have had

without her generous giving.