nothing lost

she fed us
and we grew. watered
us,
dressed us and sent
us on our way,
to church,
to school.
how quickly we needed
new shirts
and pants, dresses,
shoes.
the old ones tight,
worn,
and thread bare,
quickly grown out of.
she fed us,
kept us out of trouble
as best
she could.
there was nothing lost,
she couldn't find,
nothing
for her children she
wouldn't
try to do.