She was shaking

Crying

Her Mother was

On the other side of

That door

Her Mother could not

See her

Hear her

Hold her

Comfort her

On the other side of

That door

Her Mother did not

Not even know

She was there

On the other side of

That door

On the other side of

That door

Her Mother

Was restrained

By the chains

Of her

Family’s history

On the other side of

That door

She reached out to

A memory

To a woman she

Never really knew

Stung by the reality

Blurred focus

Of the portal before her

On the other side of

That door

Was the stranger

She feared

Wearing a face

Holding the mirror

Of her Own

She faced her future

Her past

Head held high

Trembling hands

The threshold

Loomed

When she stepped

Through

To the other side

Of that door