Wake Up

She sleeps, not moving
Not even breathing
Her body is perfectly still
Her face is at peace
Like I've never seen before

When I touch her hand
Her skin is like ice
Why is she cold?
I tell her to wake up
To come play with me
She doesn't answer

I tell myself that she hasn't heard me
That she'll soon awaken
From her deep slumber
I shake her pale form
Saying, 'Mom, wake up!'
But she doesn't answer

She looks so small
So vulnerable and fragile
She should be in her bed
And not in this coffin
Surrounded by her weeping family

Written in January of 2005, in memory of a friend's mom who passed away.