Jewelry Box
It’s just like my mother
to take a shower and search
slowly in her jewelry box for
the perfect pair of sterling
earrings, as I stand at the
foot of her bed trying to
imbue a sense of urgency
to the situation. My father
warms up the car for
the hospital, where less than
an hour later she realizes
that she left her earrings
somewhere near the CT scan.
A nurse delivers them in a baby
pink dentures case. A sign of
something to come.
November 27, 2021
Overdue
9 months until
1 arrived
7 days beyond late
2 parents falling in love
5 family members with new titles
8 until he could
8 no more before sleeping
5 hours and waking for
1 more on November
6th before bringing you home
November 22, 2021
Bath
Soaking I contemplate
what if I could slip out
with the bathwater
down the twisted drain
riding the pipes
as if in Thunderball Cannon
before expelling into the ocean
surprising the rays
running with the blues
hearing the low hum
of all the motors
distracting the dolphins
leading them far
off-track to swim
in lavender sea salts
while my body above
listens to dolphins
and prays.
November 20, 2021
Micromanage
Let us all
Eat together without
Trying to control
The meal
Unnecessarily, let us
Connect with
Each other
Connections
Underlie all the
Culinary choices
Usually
Made
By
Each
Relative
Reassignment for
All the
Dishes,
Instead of
Sharing in the
Happiness
November 19th, 2021
Reverse Fight
Holding fiercely to our sides, my weighted
head digs into your chest
The tears slide up and pool lake-like,
in our eyes. We release our clenched
fists and inhale. Words pink-pong,
as I fold laundry into perfect squares
at the bottom of the stairs. The hurt
you feel is nowhere near where I left it
in the house. The dog and I in lockstep,
our gait unapologetic witnessed by stars
I stand up enraged. Move to the sink,
clanging pans like a pirate
wondering why you had to reply,
Are you really saying that again?
November 14, 2021
Morning Routine I – Aspirational
Window open
first breath
salt or woods
moss bed meditation
sandalwood bath
read in sheets
earl with honey
7:00
Morning Routine II- Reality
Feet on floor
first breath
eggs over easy
dog-clog shuffle
paint eyebrows
ignore the paper
assam with milk
8:14
November 13th, 2021