Michael Frazier

 

Eastern Standard Time; Japan Standard Time    

​

mom

         wakes before her alarm does      upright, she stares      into the loosening dark     now the

comforter    reaching for the floor    the bathroom light    faucet    turned     the burn          

of warm water      winter skin    towel     tight above breasts    arthritis stiff scrubs    coffee overwhelmed    into notcoffee    anymore    door    obscured sunlight    the keys    the keys then back outdoors

her        breath    visible     in the car     the heater    low hum       Siri says   I don’t recognize that

name    Ma’ says how?    Mikey     my boy    redial    the phone rings until road    erodes into parking lot the windows fogged    she rolls    them down 

 

lets the silence out.