Sometimes you really need a mother

so you

pick up a section of the curtain

and make her mother

or rip off a piece of string

and make her mother

hang her near the window

dance and try

to interrupt the shouting at your own death

the mother made of string

hears the cry

but her arms do not work

her heart is a dehydrated coffee bean attached to her chest

call up that mother

to do a rehearsal

tell her

this is how you act

when your daughter needs saving

open your mouth

and look shocked

tilt your eyebrows and make small talk with the waiters

while you wait for paramedics to arrive

curl your lips towards the wound

love

just takes practice

stuff the love in your daughter’s mouth

and into whatever part of her decides to bleed