carrying malcolm,
assorted towels, sunscreen,
one small baby hat.
tripped down the pool path
foot crunched on the smooth concrete.
crumpled in a heap.
"get up. act normal."
red-hot railroad spike in my foot.
pain maul hammers spike.
get up. carry boy.
teeth grit steps to open gate.
crumple on pool deck.
"this is absurd. breathe.
wait for the pain to subside.
act normal. go swim."
big bump on left foot.
laura helps invalid inside --
hop, hobble, wince, hop.
distressed toddler boy
needs attention; iced foot propped.
reassure bucko.
cat watches girls swim.
i hear their splashing joy as
my foot swims in pain.
unreasonable.
pain does not permit logic,
polite behavior.
excuse me while i writhe.
don't mind me, it's just this foot,
more painful than birth.
matisse trails inside,
naked body wrapped in towel,
wet swimsuit in hand.
cooperation
pays off. mati gets dressed, packs
up suits and towels,
helps malcolm with shoes,
helps laura with her brother,
gives mama a hug.
morganne decides to
hang out with em and new friends,
little ones with charles.
grateful for crutches,
foot visits doc-in-a-box,
x-rays and ace wrap.
it is not broken.
better in ten days - two weeks.
it will hurt a lot.
no pain meds for this
nursing mama. just ice it and
keep the foot up.
chicks run to greet me,
useless mama, can't fetch things,
can't carry toddler.
through the wreath of pain,
something good happened today.
malcolm said "flower."
Copyright © 16 May 1997 by
Heather Madrone. All rights reserved.