Left her letter by the vase
Mother should have been home that night
Her daughter stayed up when the wildfire came
Grabbed the note and ran for her life

But the fire
Burned through the night, burned through the night
She breathed in smoky sunlight, hot blooded skies

Dragged worn knuckles across new doors
Begged for any news of any kind
Every first Sunday, she trekked among the low graves
Turning stone after stone for a sign
It was the fear of the beast, wildfire under her feet
Kept her awake in the night
As she cried

“I am broken down without you
I am broken down without you
I am broken down
I am broken down”

Found the home her daughter left
Lilacs bloomed where mother wept

At night she sat on the floor
By the door
Hoping her daughter would find a way home
Still had the scars on her knees
From pleading with deities
Mother refused what she knows
As she choked

“I am broken down without you
I am broken down without you
I am broken down
I am broken down

I am broken down
I am broken down
I am broken down
I am broken down”