m o mm a

her hair ran down her back

black, like a river.

we were sitting on the sofa

her child in my lap.

I said: happy birthday, momma

now you’re not a teen anymore

she said: really?

I said: no, you’re twenty. like me

she said: oh

I said: life is getting serious and smiled

she kept quiet

I was right

he had such pretty big brown eyes

an open face

a mind so bright

meanwhile so much has happened

and today I only hope

that he won’t remember any of it

as he is just one year old

he won’t recall me, that’s for sure

barely ever saw me

just for our weekly walk

or when she threw his food

across the room

shouting at my face that this stupid kid

never eats what she cooks

don’t call him that, I insisted

but always softly, too restrained and I know

now that he’s somewhere else

if anything he will remembers his mom yell

I just hope he won’t.