The Weight of Water

And I read. Slowly I read. In English.

About Plath’s desire to die.

And I wonder if I could do that.

I wonder if I could surrender.

And take my last breaths

Instead of living with a rock

In my belly.

‘I will decide when the lesson ends,’ they insist.

But they cannot compete

With The Bell.

Mama found the perfect home for

A cast-off laundry bag.

Yes.

But not a home for us.

Mama rented a room

In Coventry.

This is where we’ll live

Until we find Tata:

Tata took all the good luggage

When he left us,

When he walked out

The wheels on the suitcase break

Before we’ve even left Gdańsk Główny.

Swarming wet docks

crust in her face

It is Kanoro who is ignorant,
If he thinks he is better.
There is honour in all things,’ he says

Mama is still crying.
But Babcia isn’t here to hold her.
And my arms are too short for the job