Dancing on My Mother's Grave

Dancing on my Mother's Grave



Gray shows through beige
Where I drew my hand across the stone
The dirt road has just been grated
And dust floats with every passing breath of wind

Another wipe reveals a picture
A smiling, lively blonde
In a wedding dress
She was always laughing
A sparkling bright charmer
In a little girl's solitary world
Who she kept too safe
Under the shade of her pale and worried arm

A fierce adversary
In the War of Chores
Cooperate or choose your own hickory
Stand defiant
And she'd sweetly reach for the smallest

After school
I would find gifts
A candy necklace or Barbie
She had thought of me while shopping

Then punishments ended
House never smelled of dinner
Lights dimmed and quiet fell

Her insides were eaten
Morphing into dangerous new creatures
That grew and swelled
Leaving only traces of mind and thought

No more dancing lessons or pecan pies.

I stand as a yellow rose falls from hand
They had blanketed her coffin like bright yellow velvet
Her favorite
Then my feet move
And I waltz
We waltz
With roses in our hair

And she has orange speckles in her eyes