She adds the tragic loss of her daughter “Michele” to the mystery of how humankind came to be here on Earth.
If God’s people cannot agree on the Beginning of Time, her wish is that her daughter will never trace her and save herself the disappointment of discovering the tale of her beginning —
“Once
Upon a Time.”
Her homeland is a primitive island in the midst of the Caribbean Sea.
“Learning to reading
and
writing”
was reserved for the rulers of the island.
As Michele grows up, she will want to be read to at night. What
will her mother tell her? Should she say that her eyesight is poor.
* * *
My illiterate, mother.
I span her like a shadow self,
calling out her name. “Frances”.
Step into my tracks, Frances. Frances.
Tell me your life story. In my dreams
you are a lifesaver.
You are a palm reader. You read palms.
You read me every night.
There beside me…. whispering incantations,
telling me what comes next…
Replacing fairytales? Replacing
sorrow.
I remember who I am today.
Tomorrow.
Heart-wrenching, full of love, life, and and… I don’t know.