I hear my mother singing, but no soft humming do I hear
I hear her singing as she walks with a laundry basket on her hip
Her singing as she brushes my little sister’s hair, and the yelps and ouches of my little sister
My mother singing as she stands by the stove, seasoning the chicken
The singing coming from my mother’s lips as she slowly fills the small medicine cup
With cough syrup
Her singing as the sweat drips from her forehead as she pulls the weeds from the front garden
My mother singing as she fills the grocery basket with fruit and milk
The singing of my mother as she holds me when I cry
The loud singing coming from my mother’s mouth as she rolls the windows down, turns the music up in the car, as she drops me off at school and waves goodbye