In the Century of Mandatory Crying
       

it was decreed that the solution
to dirty water was a salt washout—
a man-made flood. One
half hour daily for the average citizen.

But mothers whose children admitted
to panning the river for secrets
were expected to weep through entire days—

wet spots on the fresh bed sheets,
salt stains on the polished mantle,
little drops on the dinner filets.

Tweet

Copyright © 2014 Rochelle Hurt All rights reserved
from The Rusted City
White Pine Press
Reprinted by Verse Daily® with permission