Abuelita

Bird's feet hands

Grasping delicately; me, my sister

Fly from us and land softly 

on the littlest cheek - Alexander
Perch there awhile, proud

Tiny, fragile woman

"Come, come, come"

She always spoke in a hurry

Aware of how slight our time was

Inside a hot, dim house

One flickering television, two sofas

- confessed by rosy lamp light;
Bathing the naked walls,

Cutting the smoky space

Cigarettes and perfume tangle
Flirting, dancing - in this foggy room
Pour into each other,
Stir a sickly-sweet medley
I can never forget

We're placed like dolls,
Lined up on the couch
To sit, and sink in the stillness
To sit, in the stale heat
While polite conversation breaks the quiet

But this air has been broken before
Shattered, violently
All around this tiny, fragile woman
I'm sorry I never knew -
You tiny invincible woman.