The sound of a small dog scratching her back

and holding on to that old slipper at the same time

keeps my mind temporarily occupied.

That moment is broken by three chirping parakeets

that are probably asking for their late dinner.

The small dog howls for seconds, too.

An Instant Message from daughter;

she responds to my inquiry about a collar.

I guess salmon wasn’t enough for the yapping mutt;

she’s singing back-up with the parakeets.

There are other birds chirping outside, too:

they must be hungry, but I’m low on food and energy.

I notice this machine guesses what I’m going to write:

I should just think and let it type,

but it knows when to fail, of course.

Except for the birds and the yapper,

home is uneasily quiet now that daughter

is away from home after being home

for a couple of weeks for summer break.

As different and distant as we are now,

I love hearing her come home

with her, “Hi, Little Mom!”

She’s always kept that sweet, childish smile:

that’s what i miss the most when she’s away,

and I miss her sweet giggles and youthful laughter.

 

Copyright@2016 Martina Gallegos