A Mother in the Bathroom

Little Girl
Today
I read to you
While you washed in the shower
I read to you
Because the towels make you nervous,
Being alone makes you afraid -

I,
The Great Protector,
My feet on the washer while it buzzes circles
I,
The Great Protector,
Turn each page like the last diamond
I,
The Great Protector,
Wool socks, torn jeans: threadbearing
I,
The Great Protector:

My voice is the exorcism of Shadows.

These hands
That fold this laundry,
That cook these meals,
That dust the staircase,
These hands that pull the curtain closed in the bathroom,
That pull up the bedsheets in the bedroom -

These hands that forget how to write
Forget how to play music
Forget how to draw intricately...
These hands are how you know me
How you understand
They free you.
They free you.