On McNutt Island
I used to sit in our 3-holer privy
with My Mother
who often rested Her right elbow
on Her thigh
right hand under chin
Left Hand draped across
dangling Her Silver Nugget Ring
–
I assumed this same position today
with My Left Hand draped
across My Thighs
& I Was My Mother
I looked down to see My Mother’s Ring
& there were My Diamonds —
jolting Me
with crystallizing light
seared into My Brain
OK’d by My Mother
The Hawk Portico 5:55pm
I planned to sit down with My Daughter
to have a talk about Her Future
instead She showed Me Her Purchases
from Frenchy’s — designer 2nd hand —
& lovingly cradled Her Louis Vuitton
brown leather hand bag:
“I’ll never let anything happen
to this —
I’ll have It ’till I die
& I’m not joking”
I’m lying on My Tomato-coloured Couch
— did I say It’s very comfortable?
Looking up at My Crow Painting
— I need My Glasses —
The Living Room Window is Open
to The Southerly Waves
at My Head
with Eliza’s Horse Blanket
over The Rest
My Daughter’s Room is Lavender
“Purple” She calls It
& doesn’t like It
The Carpet is white
with old crayon
from previous kids
She bought new sheets today
Purple
& a White Comforter
She said would make
Her hate The Room less
She bought a White Orchid
with Purple in The Centre
& flowers for a heavy glass vase
& here I sit by Her Shaded Window
listening to The Waves
The Fog has sunk
into My Left Shoulder
–I can’t do The Laundry–
–I shouldn’t even be writing–
Peak & Eliza have gone to Lunenburg
with Their Father & His Family
My Day Is Grey
but I’m OK–
isn’t that awful?
The Hawk Deck 7:20 pm
HOUSES I HAVE WORKED ON
If My Mother worked on a house
does that count for Me?
She rubbed lemon oil into My Father’s Furniture
before the move to McNutt Island
when I was a child–
I did re-paint My Bedroom there
before the arrival of My First Husband
Then He & I pregnant with Our First Born
built The Thoreau House–
the one-room post & beam
We wouldn’t sell for a million dollars
He & I fixed up The Shakespeare House
in Shelburne for My Mother–
She paid us–
& then We bought our own
with no electricity & no plumbing–
I put My Soul into that Atlantic House
if not My Heart
& then My Mother died
& My Days of House-fixing were over.
–
I had Eliza & an affair
with an adoring doctor–
My Second Husband now–
& The House He & I have on The Hawk
should be My Final Resting Place–
though I feel It may not be
despite all the trim here
I have painted:
Living Room, Dining Room
Family Room, Hallway
Balcony, Stairs
& Corner Room–
and all The Artwork I have hung
I am waiting in The Fog
with audible surf
and the occasional call
from a sea bird
–
waiting for The World
to collapse
but I somehow doubt It will:
The World is like A Very Strong Mother–
She may lie down for a nap
but always fixes supper
She may live in Her Bathrobe
yet maintains Her Modesty
She cleans when She feels like it
and gets Her Children to clean up
after Themselves
–
She loves everybody in Her House
Her Home is Her Sanctuary
She Is Her Own World
Joanna Gilman Hyde 