Rubato

Lola Haskins

When presenting your plate for mashed potatoes
did you say, Oh yes, PLEASE,
to the spoon heaped high with snow?

When the moon was a grin in the black sky
and all the stars were clear,
could you rock it, just slightly, with your eyes,
and did it become a boat?

When Miss Heidemann said, Now open The Commentaries
to page five, could you get it out of your mind
how her white hair was flying from her skull,
and how her first name was Claire?

Could you follow instructions without coloring in the o's?
When you were very small, did you fight sleep?
Have you ever stopped fighting sleep?

Lola Haskins