MY MOTHER ONCE TOLD ME
Not to sleep with flowers in the room..
Since then I have not slept with flowers.
I sleep alone, without them.
There were many flowers.
But I’ve never had enough time.
And persons I love are already pushing themselves
Away from my life, like boats
Away from the shore.
My mother said
Not to sleep with flowers.
You won’t sleep.
You won’t sleep, mother of my childhood.
The bannister I clung to
When they dragged me off to school
Is long since burnt.
But my hands, clinging
Remain
Clinging.
