Third family portrait

It was the dead of winter

The cold was in our bones

And our shelves stood barren

As we had ever known

So our mother stands on the porch one evening

The silent crack in her stony mask

she looked up at the sky, and said "please"

And by the turn of summer we packed up all we owned

And with my mom and brothers we started for the coast

And I would count all the clouds on the way

And you and I would name them while the world around us changed

And I remember asking if the place we're moving would have more food

And my mother grew as distant as can be

and mouthed, "please"

So I, so tired eyes, pay no mind

The river of time will drown these days out

It was the year just after we stood and watched the sea

And my mom was smiling

No longer saying please