I swing into my Nan’s house, one loudmouth and two braided pigtailsholding my head pinned in place. School is closed on Wednesdayafternoons. The washing machine tumbles around the ticking of the clock.Round and round, puny hands are digging deep into the cookie jar –my first addiction and therefore, I boldly decide, also my last.Nan begins baking a new batch. Round and round,the wheels on the bus keep the cassette tape going, too.
And we work and we sing. I misspell my very first poem, while she’s knitting Round and round, the needles go
When four baby daughters up in the sky drain her anaemic heart,tears on Granddad’s photo against her riant chest, I crawl on her lap –My hug means to tell her, yes, she will see them again but please,not now. Nurse’s clinical error happened so out of the blue,grief stunted my growth.The new washing machine tumbles without a sound. I picture Nanon many a nameless auspicious day -but framed on the coffee table,she looks grave sinking into a heart petite for a body this big.The clock on the mantlepiece is loud about the cookies andour kitchen window flowers; how they belong in their jar and pot.As silly, familiar and orange as those have forever been. My sonsdiscuss TikToks before cross-dissolving into world politics. Sugar isstill my only sin. Headphones ready- still need to put one thousand ninehundred and twelve steps in, as it is getting dark outside. Time flies,and I have walked around the coffee table before.
Round and round My ball point pen goes This is Wednesday, this is my home
Photo by Vidar Nordli-Mathisen on Unsplash