Momma said

Momma said,

Take your shoes off on the back porch,

I just mopped the floor.

Leave you muddy clothes out there, too

and keep your dirty hands off my clean wall.

Momma said,

Come eat, clear your plate before TV,

quit picking on your sisters

or I’ll beat knots on your head.

Momma said,

It’s your turn to do the dishes,

pots are dishes, too,

take the garbage out,

don’t leave it in the sink.

We said,

Grace before eating,

complained about green vegetables

and swore it wasn’t our turn to do dishes.

Dad said,

Just once he’d like to eat dinner in peace

pushed his chair back from the table,

lit an unfiltered Pall Mall

and contemplated the good life.

You mumbled…under your breath

(Because saying nothing was safer),

kicked you brothers under the table

sent death threats with your eyes

if they complained.

and when momma said

fetch the belt from the nail

by the fridge – you did.

9-11-22