Joanna Gilman Hyde

The Tomato-coloured Couch 8:10pm

My Mother sat in Her brown & gold

champagne bubble evening dress

empire-waisted

listening to Her clarinet-playing married Lover

in The World’s Greatest Jazz Band —

I stayed baby-sat

until

Her Bubble Burst

upon My nine-year-old shoulders

The Christmas I begged

for a pair of green & red

Love Birds