Saturday, November 08, 2025

an echo without a wall

here, speak  to  Amma
my sister offers, holding 
out  the hair dryer to me

I gently receive the device
lift aside the strands of hair
caught in its grill, delicately

I set the roaring  machine
to my ear  where it  begins 
to angrily melt my earrings

at first I can't hear my mother
--speak a little louder--I beg
even as I feel bad for asking

as  she  sounds so, so  tired 
and  now she's  complaining
about how she forgot to bring 

any money with her

2 comments:

Nance said...

This was a strange and specific dream, and I'll bet you felt both cheated and comforted when you woke up.

I love that you felt so guilty for asking your mother to speak up when she was coming to you from so far away, and that you were willing to suffer through pain and discomfort just to hear her voice, even though all she did was complain. That is a testament to your love.

Don't feel guilty that you lived so far away from her. I'm sure she reveled in your success and your happiness with your family. She parented you to be independent and to do well. You were a gem in her crown.

StephLove said...

This is very moving.

some noes

I would have been miserable as a lawyer. I had to do lawyer-like things today in my role as a CASA and also in my role as a Title IX advisor...