She’s the first one up
And the last one to sleep,
In charge of rustling
Unruly adult children
To make sure all that needs
To be done
Gets done
So it can be done
Again the next day.
A black tank top under
Baggy windbreakers with
White stripes down the arms,
A hat two sizes too large,
And gardening gloves
With red palms,
Into the backyard she goes
To tend the garden
So that there might be
Fresh bounty.
She dips anything
Into a bit of water
Or tea
Just to give it a little
Rejuvenation:
Stale ham, bricks of bread,
Milk curd covered in sugar,
Staring blankly
At the wall,
Chewing with her
Mouth open.
Freckled cheeks stretch
Under narrow eyes
And hazelnut skin,
She ties her hair up in
A bun with a toothy
Clip garnished with
Tawdry toy diamonds
And lets it down again
Only after the sun
Has long vanished.
When she speaks her eyes
Widen and her mouth
Hugs the curves
Around her words
But she tires easily sometimes,
So she sips the echoes
Of her tea
Knowing that what must
Keep the home in order
Is her.
Composed 06/23/2012
Author’s Note: My host mother did just about everything around the house. My host sister helped a lot with cooking, but in terms of keeping everything in order, it was all her. Even when her husband was around, she was the one in charge. Mongolian women are very tough, especially those who live in the countryside. I have a lot of respect for what they do.
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