Care of the body was sweet
besides there was nothing else.

I said are you hungry she seemed angry that she was.

If you saw what you had given years to

fish swimming on disposable placemats

you could do it
one hand tied
behind your back.

On good days we went to the Dollar Store

spill of toothbrushes, tiny porcelain dogs, red
plastic roses, bins and bins of books with blank pages

everything she now would never make good

no time to start thinking
too late for that.

Shiny bright knives of light on the sheet in the morning.

Would you like pie? It’s lemon.

Why shouldn’t I?

A crispness to kindness.