She walks in beauty like the fucking night
I said fifty years ago in California
also today when she tumbled restive
in a hospital bed petting invisible
cats — I can’t believe her hair is still brown —
she will never own a little house
with garden and birds
which is what she wanted
after decades rattling around poor old lady
survival rooms
and now she’s dying
I rubbed her back when she cried in childbirth
today I asked want a back rub
she replied how come there are so many cats
in my bed tonight