Elizabeth Romero: When Mothers Are Mentioned

I think of you of course

Though I knew you so little

I think of the time I knocked you down

You were drunk and I was angry

It wasn’t hard you went sprawling

And looked up at me glassy-eyed

I looked at you

At the cheap rug

The scarred bureau

The radio the coffee table the cat

I said I’d better get out of here

Before I kill you

And I ran out the door

Down the stairs

Into the street

Having nowhere to go

I came back and sat on the stairs

In the hall outside the apartment

I could hear you on the phone

Talking to the police

I have this daughter you said and paused

And said again I have this daughter

Copyright 2018 Elizabeth Romero