Wonder Wo(mom)



Peering through the slit of a window screen
The bustle calms me. I hate the quiet.
Homesickness kicks in when I see mint tea
You made it for me when I wasn’t healthy
Leaving on a flight to Paris tonight
Please don’t let go until I thank you, mom

Prayed a whole plane ride to just have you, mom
Begged G-d no tumor shows upon screening
Sheild’s become what I'm protecting tonight
A leader cancers silenced to quiet.
Doctors know how to make people healthy
Superwoman that saved me with tea


You cured bald me with your kisses and tea
Quitting is not in the skillset of moms
Need you, you don’t need me. You’re my healthy
Suburban girl kneels by her window screen
 Talking to G-d in a rare quiet
“Let abba see me marry in two nights”


A train screeches on the train tracks tonight
The sweet aroma of mint tea
Two women sit together quietly
One wishes for dad. Other yearns for mom
A man talks of fixing his window screen
Both cringe at the add for “get the breast health”

 Both trying to maintain their mental health
Write in their journal tonight
little Sarah’s fingers tracing the screen
Chick next to me thinks she can brew your tea
Thanks for teaching me how to be a mom
in loud happiness, somber and quiet

I sit here seeking you in the quiet
nana fumes spark a memory. Healthy?
reminds me of you when you had mommy
I still have her. You cant see her tonight?
cant see grand me're but smell her mint tea
my superhero concealed by a screen

memories to make masked by death's quiet
wafting mom's tea, I need her nightly


with health she rises in my mind's eye's screen

Comments

  1. UnknownFebruary 27, 2018 at 4:59 PM

    This was heartbreaking and moving. I love the pace at which this story unfolded for the reader. We were slowly taken on this narrative with certain landmarks to keep up familiar. The use of the word "tea" was especially interesting to me. It became a meaningful symbol that I anticipated in every stanza.
    My only criticism is that sometimes it felt like you were forcing lines to come up with the word at the end. for example, "Quitting is not in the skillset of moms"
    Overall, great job with this awesome sestina! Those seem scary to even try.

    ReplyDelete

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