GIRL MOTHER

Once mom moved out, we started snack dinner
salami, instant oats, chunks of cheese and frozen pancakes,
a 24/7 marathon of my favorite foods.

She had a house, apartment really, where we sat for dinner
two plates, two forks, i never used mine
but she made me set it down,
“Set the table”
and sometimes, she’d make me pick up my shoes
and put them in a spot.
“a fresh start” she’d say.

I made a home, with manga-tiles
for a little toy dinosaur and a plastic axolotl
they lived together in a pen without walls
to save money.

When momma came back home to the big house
I heard “things are gonna change around here” , and her voice was joking but then
she made me pick up my shoes.

When mom moved out, dad switched to instant coffee.
No more big black pot sputtering in the mornings
No sweet coffee smell
Just a spoon in a cup and pile of dirt crystals

Mom’s back now and she
drinks instant coffee too.