she did nothing

she laments

dementia they proclaimed

we still believe it is

just mom being mom

going through the stages of grief

denial has left anger

revisits bargaining against

depression onset she a product of her day

I remind her she has paved the way

women sought self

affirmation in fashion

she rode this wave

so much success selling this story

so that I

could grab my own board

meet the next swell

and continue this series in the story

I wear the gown of artistic expression

meting out my days in the chapters of strong will and pure

trust

faith that it will mean something

somewhere down the road

perhaps at the next beachhead

where my nieces stand nearly

ready watching the horizon

as the next surge takes form