To a single mother

Her plaza of light
trembles underfoot
on afterquake

so many words no
so many silences yes
she double resigns

twists around her poverty
her children's need
towards her own exhaustion

as she provides
rest, shallow water
for play

a lion wellspring
for gift
but she owns

your evil
and you wrest
the shallow water

from her cupped
hands to drink
and her tears

are to someone
a spiral
a fluent gyre

that holds undisclosed
habitats and pathways
the familiarity to exploitation

she draws sweetness
from style and community
building violence

her nausea knows a year's health
so many words no
so many silences yes.