signs of the underneath:
rust is dull
still:
paint shining at corners
(the ‘S’ key strangely many shades darker)
all those fingers piled up
all of them mingling touching
old:
sometimes there is a voice
the space between:
smaller than ribbon scream-whispers
makes metal tolerable
or:
plastic from now-now-now
not then
this dirt:
on my fingers
filthuh:
hear how the dirt builds upon skin
ah:
(a good cleaning she says
hot water
HOT water is what you need
and a powdering after like a proper
proper what lady
oh yes a what lady proper
water what lady
now it will be hot-uh water
and rrrubbed dry
and powder puff
stand and still and arms out like so bird and legs
i mean feet apart just so
lady remember lady
you might kill your mother if you don’t
no i mean she might die if you don’t
there she is
naked and powdered
powdered naked
puff puff puff-hhh)
and the title:
GOOD GRANDDAUGHTER
oh yes