Squeak Squeak

She sat in her boudoir 

Applying her face 

Rouge lips and buttery eyes 

Pink cream soaking her skin 

I watched from the doorway 

Mother always said I was too quiet 

Like a little garden mouse 

Playing amongst the hydrangea

Squeak squeak my love 

She would say as she passed me 

Her cool hand on my back 

It was hard to make yourself known 

In the home of a lioness 

Calculating 

Sultry and slow 

It was hard to stand your ground 

On rocky little hills 

The age old story of the 

Lion and the mouse

Safety was her offering 

Not love per say

But a warmth of defence 

That allowed me to roam around in peace 

No fear of traps or rotting cheese 

Mother is a mistress 

To the man down the street 

A swanky lawyer with a rounding belly and swollen feet 

On nights she is not here to protect me 

She is there to please him 

The hippo 

Dangerous and fat 

Large teeth that collect too much saliva 

Hungry hungry all the time 

Hungry for mommy 

I’m caught in her reflection 

A slouched little figure 

Sad little silhouette 

How are you mommy 

You look very pretty 

Hello little mouse 

Come sit on my lap 

She brushes the pink cream on my face with her long fingers

Says it will soak into my skin 

Keep me forever young 

But I want to grow up 

Be just like her 

The doorbell sings the song of nights end where mommy must leave 

The hippo is impatient 

Temperamental

Ready to eat 

Oh my darling, I won’t be gone long 

She gives me a soft kiss 

And a low growl 

Protection 

I watch her sway as she struts to our door 

Perfect in her power 

The queen of the jungle 

Leaving behind her prey 

To ponder about the circle of life 

How is it we all exist 

In this suburban jungle 

How we know our places 

The rules to play 

I guess that’s for me to figure out later 

I google the lifespan of a mouse 

Two years 

I go and apply more cream 

Forever young 

Reviews

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

After reading your poem I am sent back in time. I am reminded of the time after the divorce of my parents and living with my newly single mother. I saw similar traits in her, clinging to elusive beauty, and not truly understanding the obsessiveness of our human frailties. And how ephemeral they are. Wonderful poem and thank you for sharing it.

[The Things She Noted]

Thank you for your vulnerability in your comment, I too have seen the vastness of fading beauty, the desperation as well. Thank you for your lovely comment!