her hands move
with tiny intensity,
fingers tensed.
do you remember
being a little girl
pretending to be
a big girl,
carefully explaining
with exaggerated
thoughtfulness
your grown-up
intention?
she folds the
paper towel
deliberately,
with the care
one might afford
fine linens
she paints each nail
dramatically,
attention fixed
as though this
is the most
important moment
as if this task
was worth a
lifetime of
preparation
as if my toes
were a treasure,
her work of art.
