Elizabeth Howard, US
Undertow
on Mother’s
Day
the men go rafting
children running wild
bouquets of guilt
blushing on the tables
wife to wife the calls
plans for a childless
gathering at a seaside spa
come Father’s Day
Checkmate
first-grade
teacher
labels him retarded
refers him for evaluation
he almost aces
the picture test
his eyes beaming
an intelligent boy
I declare
she pokes her finger at me
if he cannot read
he’s retarded
exclamation point
period
A Firm
Hand
when the
father
rises from his chair
red-faced
wife and children cower
when a stranger appears
at the open door
he laughs heartily
just a little fear to keep
them in line
