When did you get better?
she asked
Looking at me
not knowing I was
never better(!)
But she also looked at war photos
the day before
and asked when the dead soldiers
would wake up from their nap
so I should have known
how her brain worked
Maybe the cold air
from the morgue
would reinvigorate them
(or just preserve their pain)
That seemed to make sense
To a child
Or an idiot
Who had an imaginary friend
that told them that anything
is possible
if you just believe in
magic
I’ve never been better
I said
and she heard that
and smiled
Then she adjusted the “World’s Greatest Mom” nameplate
that she bought for herself
next to her portrait of Jesus
As she waited for the next student
to counsel
she asked
Looking at me
not knowing I was
never better(!)
But she also looked at war photos
the day before
and asked when the dead soldiers
would wake up from their nap
so I should have known
how her brain worked
Maybe the cold air
from the morgue
would reinvigorate them
(or just preserve their pain)
That seemed to make sense
To a child
Or an idiot
Who had an imaginary friend
that told them that anything
is possible
if you just believe in
magic
I’ve never been better
I said
and she heard that
and smiled
Then she adjusted the “World’s Greatest Mom” nameplate
that she bought for herself
next to her portrait of Jesus
As she waited for the next student
to counsel
