just a moment

there was that one time
when I was taken crying
to my mother because
the strap on my tap shorts
had fallen down while I was
performing on stage I had
bravely pushed it back up
during a brush stamp stamp
stamp one two three hop

I was only in second grade
I felt completely devastated
they took me to my mother
up in the balcony even though
Cathy Chandler’s mother had
had to put make-up on my face
because my mother didn’t get
the memo or the maternal gene

anyway my mother said a few
perfunctory but nonetheless
reassuring words but I wonder
did they just bring me to her
because she was my mother or
did I actually ask for her hoping

Cinse Bonino
2023