MOTHER’S DAY
I gave birth
to an elephant,
a chimpanzee,
and three girls,
who don’t look
at all like me.
My husband
walks around the ward.
He makes himself
transparent
and poisons
my medicine.
On Mother’s
Day nobody comes
around. It is
worse than my
birthday. I
don’t get a card.
I forgive
the chimpanzee and
my three girls. I
heard that an
elephant
never forgets.
I’m upset
with the elephant.
He has chosen
to ignore
my birthday
and Mother’s Day.
(Previously appeared in St. Vitus Press & Poetry Review)