my grandmother told
my mother, write nothing down
truth was a danger
but she called me once,
hearing a word in Bus Stop
she wanted to share
she liked to play cards
and read cheap romance in the
ever smoky air
she loved words, i think,
but she had been punished for
questioning the rules
asked her on Friday
please can you help me, up there
i’m feeling confused
felt that she heard me
but now I can’t remember
her whispered reply