Poor Tree Love Mom

It’s the weirdest thing…
I found this spoiled carton
of milk in the fridge and
for some reason I thought
of you. Have you made any
new friends? I’d love to
meet them. What are they
like? Was there anyone
SPECIAL? I was sort of
dozing in front of the TV
and someone on the soap
opera cried out, “Mommm!”
and I leapt up, yelling,
“What’s wrong?” I thought
it was you! I heard a rumor
about you the other day
Is it true? With the rubber
cement, and the spatula, and
those poor ants from Timmy’s
little ant farm? I found some
of your old comics and a box
marked “Precious Collectibles”
when I was tidying the house
I tossed them out. You don’t mind
do you? I found an old love letter
addressed to you too. I didn’t
READ it… but I may have
PEEKED. You know, to make sure
it wasn’t a bill. Your secret’s safe
with me. Is there any more magical time
than the holidays? I think not!
Flurries drifting through the frosty
night air, footsteps crunching through
snow, family gatherings… How are you?
Would it kill you
to visit your folks once in a while?
We miss you! I think
about you often, and your dad…
Well, he misses you, too,
but you know how he is
My New Year’s resolution
is to help you be healthier
and happier. I’m still not sure
of the best way to go about it
Everyone always shouts “Happy New Year!”
and not to be a “bumout”
or whatever you kids say
but what’s so happy about another year
passing? Did the groundhog see its shadow
today? I saw your father’s shadow. It seems to
grow wider every year. Being filled with
doubt and uncertainty is just part of
being young. Don’t worry so much, dear!
Even adults live with doubt and regret;
all you can do is just live!
There was a darling bazaar in the town
square, and I happened upon this adorable
umbrella. Do you need one? A tiger butterfly
has decided to pay me a visit, and now I can’t
shut the window. It’s a quiet morning. Just me
your dad, the butterfly,
a pot of coffee, and the birds
chirping outside. Oh! they read my letter on
the radio! I said we had no legs to make
our story more interesting. Do you remember
that time when you stuck a crayon up
your nose? Is it still up there?
Why’d you do that? Today was so warm
the ice cream man made his rounds
and I had to chase him down, and I caught him
Then I left the house thinking I’d just do some
shopping, but before I knew it, I was reeling
in a fish! Are you coming home
for the holidays? Don’t worry
we found the hamster and
gave it a proper burial
your dad cried. All music
sounds the same now! However
I still enjoy… What did you call it?
Oh yes: Air-drumming. I like air
guitar too! Do you prefer fevers
allergic reactions, broken bones
or nosebleeds? Me
I’m partial to fevers. You
get neat dreams. By the way
the storm pummeled my umbrella
the more I tried to fight it
the wetter I got
I’ve made the decision not
to sigh, but when I hear
myself doing it, it makes me
sigh all the more
You must promise to walk
with me again by the
cherry blossoms in bloom
Do you think you can take
some time off this spring?
This year, I’d like to be
a better mother. Your dad
and I go to the cafe
every Saturday night
to listen to music
The bitter coffee goes
nicely with the sweet
melodies. Honey, I just want
to tell you that it’s good
to be patient! You’ll get
that much more happiness
later on. There were fireworks
in town tonight
It made me wonder
if you could see them
from your town
I keep remembering one fall
night when you were yelling
at fireflies, trying to get
them to land on your hand
and your first winter as a toddler
when you slipped on some ice and fell
You didn’t cry, but I could tell
you wanted to. I hope you don’t mind
all these strange letters, but I just
want to share my life with you. Even if
you have chosen to live with animals
which I’ll never understand
Do you remember the huge
tree in the backyard?
Well, it’s dead now.
Poor tree. Love, Mom

freedom ending

double virgo in one ear
I love every moment

I receive an order
I like america

so long as it’s mediated
thru music videos

one image of nature
hangs on my wall

a mountain
a little sno

remember the footnote
in “Pop Quiz 9”

your roommate called
a cliche? nothing’s

too horrible
to be true

I can’t stand to see outside
my window, a song

from my phone playing the name
of a friend I’d forgotten

poetry’s paper at the bottom of
the shredder

stains on the beige carpet
virus green

art on the wall, I
don’t want to see

where this life leads

Ulyses Razo wrote the chapbooks Personal Life (If a Leaf Falls Press), Murders & Other Poems (Ghost City Press), and Roses Bricks Blood (Ghost City Press). His work has been published by Wonder Press, b l u s h, Soft Union, and others. He splits his time between the U.S. and London.
IG : @ulysesrazo
X : @ulyraza