Thinking of Water
Inching towards November
still no rain, this fifth year of drought.
My husband too is parched.
His language withering,
sometimes a drip, sometimes a deluge.
The other day he meant ‘frontier,’
only it burst out as ‘furniture,’
accompanied by a storm of anger.
As his abilities creak backwards,
I picture him at eight, puppy-like,
his body not yet grown into his jutting
ears, front teeth too big, with a father
who demanded to be worshiped
by everyone, even his own children,
a mother who wished she were Boston
Brahmin, not from immigrant stock.
Am I now the depository of his memories?
Our own children have taken on
roles they don’t deserve: having to shave
him, take him for a walk.
A torrent of sorrow.
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