CUP AND PLATE

WHEN WE BECAME SICK

WHEN WE WERE CHILDREN

MY MOTHER

BEING A PART TIME WITCH

HAD A TREASURE TROVE

OF FOLK MEDICINE TO CURE US

SUCH AS

THE JUICE OF ONIONS AND SUGAR

CURED EVERYTHING

HONEY FOR ANY WOUND

MUSTARD PLASTER FOR COLDS

CASTOR OIL AND ROOT BEER MIX

FOR GENERAL MALAISE

BUT THE COUP GE GRACE

FOR ANY SICKNESS

WAS WHEN MUM BROUGHT YOU

TEA IN A YELLOW CUP

TOAST ON A BLUE PLATE

BEFORE WHICH

RASH DISAPPEARED

FEVER ABATED

IF IT FAILED

THE DOCTOR WAS SUMMONED

FUNERAL PLANS WERE MADE

AS AN ADULT

WHEN MY WORLD

GETS TWISTED

UPSIDE DOWN

I MISS THE CUP AND PLATE

THE HEALING IT BROUGHT

FRANK A VOLLMER