Mother May I

Mother, may I go down the street to play with Hailey?
Mother stands in the doorway, wiping a glass with a dishcloth
Yes, yes you may
Okay!
You zoom out the door, barely hearing her call Be back in two hours!
You don't know what time is
You are a small child
At Hailey's, you play Mother May I
Big steps forward, giggling

You are sixteen
You don't play Mother May I
You don't ask your mother anything
Instead, you sneak out late when you know she is sleeping
She says, I don't like that tone of voice young lady
You say, I don't give a fuck what you think
She says, Language

You are twenty two
You no longer live with your mother anymore
You love hearing her voice on the phone
When you get sick, she comes over and takes care of you
Thank you Ma, you say
I love you Ma, you say
I love you too, she says

You are thirty five
You are married, have two small children
Your mother watches them for you while you and your spouse work
Sometimes, she makes them macaroni and cheese
This was your mother's favorite, she tells them

You are forty eight
You get a call in the middle of the night
You rush to the hospital, the kids are sleeping
Your mother is lying weak on the hospital bed
You hold her and sing to her
I love you Ma, you say
I love you too baby, she says
She is gone