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isolation and time
make dumplings from scratch,
liquored cherries and spicy pickles.
they clean the car,
encourage midday bloody mary’s
and early evening runs in crowded
parks with your daughter, listening
to true crime podcasts about one
of the worst series killers in history,
the sun bathes the small man-made lake,
as she struggles to keep up, but you listen
to the gruesome tales to bond and stay connected,
worrying that she may need more
joy and inspiration in her life,
later you watch a film about michelle obama,
holding back tears and rubbing away goosebumps,
hoping the daughters felt something akin to hope.
wonder what kinds of stories they’ll tell about you
when you are gone.

latent legacy-
everyday one less chance
to get it right.