By Donna Emerson
I find myself making your bed this morning.
Lately I can’t accept its rare mussiness
the way I did before.
The quilt we had the Amish lady make
lies cross-ways, not covering the pillow
anymore.
The sheets are wrinkled, the way
Imogen Cunningham squished hers
before taking that photograph I love.
Stopped by a spot of blood, I remember
you’ve started the pill. Who will you meet?
Who will you love?
I find a way to tuck your stuffed toy
bumblebee, the prize you won
at the county spelling bee,
between the throw pillows.
I never noticed her eyes.
She looks up slightly,
like you did at the bees.
And the plush otter, from the
Monterey Aquarium, fits
below it on the lace pillow
Mother left me so long ago.
Fluffing the pillow makes me
realize you’ve done this
all these years, yourself.
Five more months until college.
I can’t go with you.
Donna received her Bachelor’s of Science and Masters in Social Work from the University of California, Berkeley (1966,1968). She has worked as a school social worker, medical social worker, and clinical social worker (LCSW) in private practice, as well as college instructor and writer. She is also a published photographer.
Retired from college teaching and clinical social work practice, Donna’s recent publications include the Paterson Literary Review and the London Magazine. She’s been nominated for two Pushcarts, Best of the Net, received two Allen Ginsberg awards (2015, 2017) and published four chapbooks. Her second book, ‘Beside the Well,’ was released in December 2019. Visit her work at her website: donnaemerson.com.
