Mother: to mother

She turns her head for a very first look

at the figure at the edge of the bed

and the palpable bridge at the end of her nose

means her glasses have been there for years

but the moon must be smiling by now

it’s a nightcap too sweet for a caption

that a beam of light IS reflected

on the middle floorboard - if you had to guess which one

and the dust that coughs up from the window sill

sneezes the drapes shut goodnight

and the sound that’s not coming from nowhere

means the silence to come will be loud

with beauty from mother to mother

back to the shape at the end of the bed

“It’s a boy” she giggle-whispered-and-hiccupped 

yes, the father was telegraphed promptly

from his posting in Seoul, South Korea

and his rifle went off in his hand 

through the ceiling and on through the roof

well he rushed to the aid of his wife

but discovered she was stricken with hunger

so he brought her lobster in a container marked ‘A.F Gunpowder’

and she kissed him and the baby looked scared.