-Sheree Fitch
I stop
cannot the skipping rope voices
they come to me
at the damnedest
times like this morning
I got up while the others were sleeping
started cleaning the kitchen floor
my mother always said when in trouble
scrub the floor
that's when they started
all in together girls
just fine weather girls
and
this is the way we scrub the floor scrub the floor scrub the
floor
early monday morning
all the way through to
this is the way we go to church go to church go to . . .
garbled voices
dripping slowly in my head
a 45 being played at a 33 speed
I remember the days of 45s
remember today
I turn forty-five
as I look at the mirror
at my swollen face
wishing I could see
the wrinkles
