Saturated

Stop heckling Stop cackling
I hear it through the curtains
I hear it past the window fan
And over the distant cars
I am alone tonight
With my bags packed
The night is empty
The rooms on vacation
Aloha, my friends
I go to Seattle again
I choose this knowingly
Ah, I miss it now
The distant laughter
Rhythmic and impure
A chorus of response
To the unheard remark
Car doors, ignition
Silence
And I feel I need my mother
To understand
How living here is my right
How loving her can be hard
And laborious
How memories can come in waves
That saturate your skin
And fill your pores
Until walking becomes impossible
Breathing an accomplishment
I want her to know
I have rights to be alone
To drown or to swim
She just needs to understand

8-8-00