Three Poems by A.J. Huffman

from Ribbon this Memory

of pink satin tied pigtails, a white eyelet

dress, and new patent leather shoes I was

always afraid I would scuff.  It was Easter,

and I was watching my mother arrange

the dinner table.  Nothing fancy, no crystal glasses

or linen napkins.  Just regular place settings

that would quickly fill with ham and all the trimmings

she had stayed up cooking till dawn.  No one would notice

that she did not sit at the table with us, but continued

to refill bowls and plates, bring napkins and extra forks.

She would eat later, from a paper plate, standing

over the sink, after the other dishes had been washed

and returned to cupboards, after the kids were asleep

in bed, after the rest of the family had been sent off

with containers of leftovers that would last for days.

In that quiet corner of the kitchen, she leaned

against a counter, sighing.  Exhausted but smiling.

Content in knowing that the laughter still echoing

against the stucco ceiling made all her work worthwhile.

Learning to Walk

Tiny brown eyes glow with frustrated determination.

Still on all fours, one leg cocked as she searches

for handhold or point of balance.  Finding none,

she continues unaided.  Second leg up,

pauses in humorous frog-squat position

before bravely raising her hands.  For several seconds

she teeters, a tower of triumph, but excitement propels

her forward.  One shaky half-step lands diapered butt

on tiled floor.  Instead of expected tears, a giggle

escapes her lips.  A moment later, she re-assumes starter

position, ready to try again.

The Road to Sky Road

does not require feathers, or wings

made of wax.  It flows like a dream.

Anyone can follow.  Just close

your eyes and pretend you are

a cloud.

A.J. Huffman has published eleven solo chapbooks and one joint chapbook through various small presses.  Her new poetry collection, Another Blood Jet, is not available from Eldritch Press.  She has two more poetry collections forthcoming:  A Few Bullets Short of Home, from mgv2>publishing and Degeneration, from Pink. Girl. Ink.  She is a Multiple Pushcart Prize nominee, and has published over 2100 poems in various national and international journals, including Labletter, The James Dickey Review, Bone Orchard, EgoPHobia, and Kritya.  She is also the founding editor of Kind of a Hurricane Press.  www.kindofahurricanepress.com