Mothers

I used to hate the way she chewed.

It made my stomach hurt 

(and by “stomach” I mean my psyche)

So long as I didn’t have to see her chew,

I liked when she brought us snacks.

Celery with peanut butter and green apples

Things that make children grow

(Resentful)

When I grew up, I cut apples like Nonno

By by cutting from your palm to your fingers to remove the core

(He wasn’t her dad)

I don’t remember how she cut the apples

But they don’t fall far from the tree