David Whyte wrote this after the death of his mother. I think it is comforting.

FAREWELL LETTER

She wrote me a letter after her death,

and I remember a kind of happy light

as I sat by the rose tree

on her old bench by the back door

so surprised to receive it

wondering what she would say

looking up before I could open it

and laughing to myself in silent expectation.

Dear son

it is time for me to leave you

the words you are used to hearing,

are no longer mine to give.

You can only hear those words of motherly

affection now from your own mouth

and only for those who stand

motherless before you.

As for me I must forsake adulthood

and be bound gladly to a new childhood.

You must understand

this apprenticeship demands

of me an elemental innocence

from everything I have ever held in my hands.

I know your generous soul

is well able to let me go

You will in the end be happy to know

my God was true

and that after so many years

of loving you so long

I find myself in the wide, infinite mercy of being

mothered myself.

P.S. All of your intuitions were true.

(David Whyte – Poet from the Pacific Northwest)