—for single moms

Held her son against warmth. “Mommy,
where’s daddy?” He
hadn’t been

home in a week. “Be back in
a few” meant he couldn’t live
between the hardness

of fatherhood & the rock
of marriage. “I don’t know, baby.”
Mother dripped so many

tears. Got caught, once. Said
her back hurt. Tad truth. Raising
a child alone

strained the strength of her effort. On
Sunday, spilled her needs
into soothe. First

view of comfort in days. Dipped
her eyes in paper news,
looking for outlet

& a smile from the comics. Garfield,
sarcastic & fat, chiseled a smile
within the stone. Up

to cook. “Mommy, I don’t want that!” “Baby,
mommy don’t feel well. You gotta eat
this.” Digs in to watch him eat.

Smiles. But the way he holds his fork,
like his daddy did. Another tear birthed
to the floor. Realization:

two alone will have to work harder. Daddy
ain’t needed, but the bastard
could’ve left some money.