My Mothers Sister Poem by Lina Mthethwa

I remember you telling me that I must work hard in life
You witnessed my highs and my lows
You helped me wipe my tears away
Never allowed me to sway
Trips to see you I took
Trips from seeing you I hated
Trips to give you gifts I loved
Trips to cry with you I feared
Trips to cook with you I observed
Trips to see your own I enjoyed
Trips to laugh with you I will miss
Life took its toll
Far away we moved
Wrapped in my own thoughts, I forgot to take a trip to you
I forgot where I was coming from
I forgot who looked after me
I became busy, had a lot to deal with
Silly excuse
Now that you are unreachable
I have learnt my lesson
No more trips
No more seeing you
No more crying with you
No more cooking with you
No more seeing your own
No more laughing with you
Regret is all I have
Time does not stop for no one
It did not stop for me, it continued on its journey
I am sorry I never told you
I am sorry I never called you
I am sorry I never wrote to you
I am sorry I never sent you love
I know it is futile for me to apologise
You have gone forever
I have always loved you
You and your own
My heart ached, still aches
You died without me telling you “I love you”
You died without me telling you “Thank you”
And for that, I will always be sorry.