the second time

i ask mama

about residential school

she says no

i ask her again

she says no

the third time

i stop listen

to her silence

ask about her diabetes

her hip achy back

her sore knees

did she get her hearing aid fixed

whether she thinks it will rain tomorrow

mama talks about all this

says i'm not too good my girl

my sugar is too high

arthritis acting up that damn doctor

won’t give me any more pain pills

this hearing aid is shit

and the rain

the rain hurts

my girl

i listen to her talk

back words slow

fill her cup

with tea