I Am My Mother's Daughter
I sit, watching myself.
I am starting to gray.
Across the kitchen, I yell at
my brothers to stop arguing. I
kiss my Father good-bye
as I hand him his lunch.
I flip the pancake
and let it sit -
something I won’t be able to do
until everyone is gone.
I try to watch the news as I
prepare my brothers for school,
but realize I’ve burnt the pancake.
Hungry, I throw it away.
And with defeat in my eyes,
I look down and ask myself,
“Daughter, are you ready for school?”
“Yes, Mother.”