My Mother's Depression

My mother was a depressed person but when I was young I didn't know it. I didn't know anything about depression or anxiety. I only saw the behavior of someone who was angry at times and withdrawn at other times. Now I know it was depression. My mother wrote poetry sometimes. I didn't know it until after she passed away in 1999. I must have gotten my love of writing poetry from her. This poem was found among her things after she passed away. I believe it was written when she was in a state of depression....possible after the loss of her mother or some other emotional event. The poem was dated September 12, 1972. I came across it again the other day while hunting for something else and thought I would share it. I feel very sad when I read this. I wish I had understood her pain at the time. I did understand in her later years and tried to be there for her as much as possible. I'm glad about that. "Last Moments" I hear a knock upon the door. I open it and see....death standing on the doorstep....and beckoning to me. "Oh wait, please wait," I cry. "I need more time to live. There's so much more I want to do, so much I want to give. "He shakes his head from side to side, and slowly clasps my hand. The darkness is descending now........at last I understand.