what we keep in rock boxes

Poem About A Mother

sticky suit picks up dust like a
old dog does; were she here
mom would tut -- wipe it with a
single finger off &
waggle in front of my vacant look to
mutter something apt about
can’t you keep out the dirt for
five minutes? &i’d keep staring
because i could keep out
but i wouldn’t, saying
“it’s one giant leap, mom”
&she would shake her head
“one giant leap”
&she would say
“Boys…”

&then when buzz said
“magnificent desolation”
i didn’t know
did he mean the moon?

or all that dust
&no mom there
to chew us out ?

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Thanks for reading. Like if you liked it. New poem every Wednesday, getting back into it.