Eye have a morning room
collecting sun
allowing my paintings to glitter.
Eye sit beside its picture window
to drink my morning decaf and cream
to dream of companionship
with a man I saw briefly
only yesterday
but with whom Eye share
My Eternity
Eye used to throw one leg
up and over my husband’s hip
lying in The Hawk Queen Bed —
He didn’t mind — rather enjoyed it I think
and Eye could go to sleep in that position.
Now Eye have a carved-out pillow
to replace Him
and what does He have?
Eye have taken on a new role:
Nourisher of my former mother in law
for lunch and supper
Monday to Friday
if Eye can take it.
Her preferences are coffee
and orange slices
though she takes her Ensure as well
and the nurses are kind
and at my disposal
and they understand
Eye love Eva dearly
Cozy in M(eye) Bed
With M(eye) World before me
IT IS THE WORLD
GOD IS A HUMAN CONSTRUCT
AND THERE IS NO SUCH ” THING”
AS TIME
Last week eye dressed up
And bought a car to go with
What eye was wearing
Eye have one remnant of Dr Blair
and that’s his cat —
Cami is the name she came with
from the pound — a ginger calico —
so now I give her ferocious pettings
complete with a little song
and no longer care
if he ever sees her again
My time in bed is
My time alone listening:
French music, wind, birds
What does my house contain?
Walls plastered with art
mine and my friends
5 cats
my mother’s furniture
what’s left of it
The makings of a life anew
minus one second husband
and out every window
views of the great
Atlantic
Eye eat my Greek salad
sitting upon the tomato–coloured couch
with a giant bowl under my chin
like a shelf
Eye am by myself
and my step-mother died today
in California–her last word to me was “fascinating “
and my mother died
28 years ago
here in Nova Scotia–her last word was “remember”
and my daughter called from Quebec
to ask how
do Eye feel
Joanna Gilman Hyde 