Mom

In and out,
Up and down,
Here and there,
She wanders,
Wonders what to do.

Last night she read
What she read the other night
And reported the same bits to me:
Did I know that maggots are used to clean out dead flesh,
Or that Victorian women fastened iridescent insects to their dresses by thin gold chains?

Is it July?
Is it trash day?
Is it Saturday?
Am I allergic to nettle?
Where is John?

The only question she has not asked yet is
Who are you?