everyday I saw momma wake up at 5:45
pa sat for toast at 6
and she’d iron her black & white uniform
in only the way she could
lips pressed-
toes curled-
bangs perfectly straight-
she wouldn’t come home until midnight
every.single.day
*******
and I miss[ed] momma
every.single.day
*******
sneeze. Sniffle-a-choo.
Mommas bones became brittle
her smile faded
her eyes depened
& she knew.
*******
The minutes passed by faster-
when she could sit up
but slower when blood poured from her mouth
tubes were in and out of her unmentionables.
 ******
And pa sat by her till midnight
every.single.day
& then momma was no more.
*******
pa comes out his room-
every morning for toast-
at 5:45 now
and i wonder
what those extra 15 minutes were for
when momma was still here