It is not past tense.
     I have a mother.
        How can I say
she is no longer
with me
      when I feel her
light
             most days,
but especially
                     today.
      It is more than
DNA.
            Everything
I know about
         compassion,
  forgiveness, and
            generosity,
are
learned behaviors.
                    I had a
wonderful teacher.
Still I make
mistakes and they
are my own.
I believe
              she would
           understand.
                         It is
 what mothers do.
                                              j.g.l.