[Old Mother turns blue and from us]
Old Mother turns blue and from us,
“Don’t let my head drop to the earth.
I’m blind and deaf.” Death from the heart,
a thimble in her purse.
“It’s a long day since last night.
Give me space. I need
floors. Wash the floors, Lorine!—
wash clothes! Weed!”
Copyright Credit: Lorine Niedecker, “[Old Mother turns blue and from us]” from Collected Works, edited by Jenny Penberthy, Copyright © 2002 Regents of the University of California. Published by University of California Press.
Source: Collected Works (University of California Press, 2002)