Contending

We all have pain we struggle through
my mother felt enough for three
but did the best that she could do

She lost her Dad in World War II
and realized when oh so wee
we all have pain to struggle through,

and then she was remanded to
a boarding school despite her plea
but did the best that she could do

in hopes a home would soon ensue,
a happy hearth that never came to be,
we all have pain we struggle through.

Then, with my Dad, a family grew
together, to a limited degree,
Mom did the best that she could do

but certain demons eat the glue
that binds us to this harsh reality:
we all have pain we struggle through
while doing the best that we can do.