Love, Lather, Repeat

"I remember the pain of
the soap in my eyes
as much
as
her
concern."

My left hand snapped up to
cover my eyes as I washed
my hair this morning; a
nearly
          dead
                   instinct:

As a young child,
in the bathtub,
Mom poured water
over
        my
              head.

So protective of my eyes,
Mom would encourage me
to hold a rag over them
while she cleaned my hair. 

I remember the pain of
the soap in my eyes
as much
as
    her
          concern.

The day I showed her
I could wash myself,
I remember her
looking away
and then
leaving
           the
                 bathroom.

But she was proud
of me when I came
out of the bathroom,
fully dressed and
hair a mess
with my
left
      eye
            red.
 ------

The Collected Chaff, v. 1.0