Braided Lives
Rivka bought a yellow-legged chicken, fresh carrots at the greengrocer
His secretary put through the call from the hospital
She had parsley curling on the windowsill
How could she have heart failure?
Potatoes and onions in barrels of straw
She had gone to a friend’s to stay overnight
Enough to last till summer
Perhaps she had been frightened
She planted to remember
She had gotten up to go to the bathroom
The farm, her family, her roots
Confused, in the dark
Her sisters, singing
The friend heard something
The smell of browned onions
In the morning, they found her
A stew, with an extra potato could make a welcome
How awful to be alone
When home was too far
He drove, unaware
If anyone in the family
Made the car signal, turn
Happened to come by
When the other cars moved
She was always looking out for them
By the time he got there, she was gone
Published in Holding: From Stetl to Santa by Green Fuse Press in 2013
