MAMA
Because Mama cannot hear and because she talks nonsense everytime she opens her mouth Everyone avoids her Everyone includes my children and me Mama lives with us
Because Grandpa Grandma Unky and Aunty are dead and because Mama has no whys and wherefores in life she’s lonely very lonely
Grandpa Grandma Unky and Aunty loved Mama They would have taken time to listen to her when she babbles nonsense they would have understood
Because they’re dead Mama is left with children who are burdened by her presence Children she loves and for whom she would still sacrifice her life
My brothers Fritz and Serge visit every Saturday Fritz brings drinks and Serge fruits But because they’re busy men they visit in a hurry
Joseph the oldest used to visit and stay a long time He used to take Mama to Pinelawn
to our sister’s grave He doesn’t do this anymore
It’s something about inheritance Mama didn’t give him the piece of property he wanted
Because Mama is lonely…
Suze Baron is Haitian-American. She lives in Brooklyn with her family.