the second time

i ask mama

about residential school

she says no

 

i ask her again

she says no

 

the third time

 

i stop listen

to her silence

 

ask about her diabetes

her hip achy back

 

her sore knees

did she get her hearing aid fixed

 

whether she thinks it will rain tomorrow

mama talks about all this

 

says i'm not too good my girl

my sugar is too high

 

arthritis acting up that damn doctor

won’t give me any more pain pills

 

this hearing aid is shit

and the rain

 

the rain hurts

my girl

 

i listen to her talk

back words slow

 

fill her cup

with tea

Bibliographical info

Rosanna Deerchild, “the second time” from calling down the sky. Copyright © 2015 by Rosanna Deerchild. Reprinted by permission of BookLand Press.

Source: calling down the sky (BookLand Press, 2015)

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