Domestica

housekeepers

The housekeeper lady
whose fatherless son can’t read
cleans the room
slipping quietly in and out
making beds, changing sheets,
placing breakfast trays outside the door.

Guests who casino in the morning
spa in the afternoon
cocktail by the pool
club through the night
find the bed always made
until turned down
when as if by magic
chocolates appear.

As the shadows lengthen
housekeeper lady rides the bus
for invisible women
to invisible places
picks up fried chicken with rice
hopes her son will come home soon
dreams of her father
and flowers in the gardens of Mexico.
.