Her mother’s moods were like a student learning a stringed instrument —
inconsistent pitch, rhythmic uncertainty, abrupt starts and stops.

The neighbors slammed their windows.
Crows burst from the trees and small animals stood still.

The household became magician assistants.
Voila – they were gone.

Her husband worked until he dropped.
One daughter joined the choir, the flag team, the drama club.

The other daughter took piano lessons and pills.

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Mark LaMonda is an artist and writer who lives in Santa Clarita California. His work has appeared in Tough Poets Review, January House, SoFloPoJo, Autumn Sky, and is forthcoming in Shadow and Sax, and ArLiJo.