Limited Quality Time
Cindy Wright

Annie Viola;
We hire bodies to care
but she cannot understand
the word nigger
is pissing them off.
 
To Annie
it is a proper noun,
no better no worse
than sailor, baker, yard boy.
 
She cannot make up her mind:
maybe it is the invisible dust
or my Chihauhau's shedded hair
that is killing her this time.
 
At 87
the possibilities expand.
and the Chihauhau growls
at Annie when she squawks.
 
But ask her about being sixteen
And you see a sass and the brass
And you know Annie truly was
The Belle of Crowe Street.
 
(Cindy Wright)