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Prairie Schooner 78.2 (2004) 88-89



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Two Poems

Two

I'm two years older than you, right?

Of course I'm your mama, and yes, that's me, and I guess that baby's you.

But who's the daddy?

Is that your baby I'm holding?

I'm two days older than you, right?

Of course I'm your mama. We're just that close.

It's always been like that, all those years we lived together.

All those years, ever since, you know, then.

When we lived together, in our home town.

Now don't tell me this isn't right: I'm two minutes older than you. [End Page 88]

Of course I'm your mama. That's why I'm older, I came first.

All right, but tell me this: wasn't I there the second you were born?

That's what I thought. From the very first.

We've always been together.

Prayer

When I am old, help me to know I am old
And cannot help it. Help me to know myself
When I cannot help myself. When I do not know
Myself, let me forget what cannot be helped.
Martha Collins is the Pauline Delaney Professor of Creative Writing at Oberlin College. Her most recent book is Some Things Words Can Do.


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