“Church Flowers”
It’s called the blue church
Because the roof is blue.
Inside is dark and sombre,
Chandelier light is golden.
The Father sang and echoed.
I would look at the walls,
At paintings of bible scenes,
Empty spaces filled by flowers.
Five petals, faded blue or red,
Yellow middle and curled leaves,
Arches, frames and crowns,
Second pairs of halos,
Perfectly symmetrical,
Perfect repetition -
maybe stamped on?
The saints all look the same too.
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“Growing up”
I can hear the fridge’s droning sound
As I lay to sleep at 11:30
I can tell the difference between wake and sleep
Because in my dreams it’s my old house
Two beds instead of one in my room
I wake up at 7:30 and get back home at 5
I wish I could visit my sister more often
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“Mother-Daughter Duties”
My mom encourages me
Tells me to be proud that I have a job, that I have graduated university
Neither hard, but both maddening
She tells me none of that matters
So long as I have a job and a salary
I can buy whatever I want
I live in a world that gives me whatever I want
At shops are things my parents never dreamed of owning
As they never dreamed that a revolution would happen
My sister’s salary covered my parents’ bills
Their groceries, their medicines,
She got married and got bills of her own
My salary took up the assisting mantel
My sister gave birth to a daughter
In August, after the Holy Virgin ascended
My mom and I visited daily until I got a job
My mom still visits
We marvel how adorable my niece is,
How intelligent, how strong-headed,
My mom says she will become a doctor, for sure,
A doctor who will look after her mommy in old age
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