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,
          Everything
I know about
                compassion,
         forgiveness, and
generosity,
are
     learned behaviours.
I had a
wonderful teacher.
Still I make
      mistakes and they
are my own.
I believe
            she would
                understand.
It is
what mothers do.

05/03/2018                           j.g.l.