only three things
by t. zoEy benally

only three things keep me here
three things that three people do
three needs that three people have
three small strings that tether me here

she complains when i
make her run slow
but when i give her the lead
she squares her shoulders
and leaves me coughing dust clouds

he laughs at all my silly stories
and jokes, i laugh at his stories, jokes
he runs beside me, keeps me going
the reason i took up running
in the first place

she sings all the time, used to cry
when Ella skipped her skat
she pretends she is everything
from monkey to me
i kiss her little feet, she tells me
"i lub you mama."