indelible sound

Photo by gbarkz on Unsplash

all day
they sneered
and pried,
gasped and wailed and lied.

come twilight,
she’s crouched
by the oven
waiting for the
food to cook,
bellies emptied by that hard day’s work,

a tune hummed low
more vibration than song,
not too loud,
(no more questions)

rocking to and fro
like so many before.
alone,
in a kitchen

uncomforted
and unbelieved.