always a good girl.

mama,

i ate all my lunch

                and i didn't complain.

  i'll always be a good girl.

i won't cry

            i'll work hard

and i'll never be loud

even when I'm scared

mama,

i won't ask for much,

be sweet

     be sweeter

be sugar floss sweet.

    -so agreeable

even when i'm sad.

a pleasure to have
in class

              in marriage

            in life.

mama,

i will be an ant

  so small

        lift ten times my weight

hold up a world

    of rules.

down,

down into a spiral

         a death spiral

            with my sisters   

 

i'm sorry i forgot to thank you.  

 

eyes forward.

eyes always forward.

don't look around. 

we ant mill in circles,
together,
always a good girl—
until the end, 
until we can’t be heard.