Mourning Poem by Gabby Becerra

I wear my armor, sharp and tight,
A queen of ice, a frozen sight.
The world carved scars, then called me strong,
Taught me I must not need belong.

They say I'm fearless, made of flame,
A hell-bent soul that feels no pain.
A bitch from fire, cold and proud,
Standing tall, unbowed, unbowed.

But today the crown is far too heavy,
My breath is weak, my hands unsteady.
Today I'm not what they adore,
I'm cracked, I'm tired, I can't be more.

I am broken, empty, lone,
A hollow heart, a silent home.
I need a hold, a place to fall,
Not strength, not fire, not walls at all.

The only soul who knew my seams,
Who saw my fears behind my dreams,
Who held my weakness soft and true—
Mom, that soul was always you.

Now heaven holds what I still need,
Your voice, your warmth, your gentle creed.
They say you guide me, give me might,
But grief is louder than the light.

I'm not okay, and that is real,
This ache is more than words can heal.
I'm not a queen, not ice, not steel—
I'm just your child, alone, who feels.

So if I break, let it be known:
I loved you deep, I loved you whole.
And in my mourning, torn apart,
You still live on inside my heart.