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Somebody had given my Uncle oranges instead
of change, three of them.
They spilled on to the booth seat at the
restaurant when he left to use the washroom
and I tucked them back into his sack for him.
A month before he had drunk stolen Drano.
They had to trach him.

Not a suicide attempt, he had said
but an incarceration attempt.
The last time he was in jail, he had gained
30 pounds and came out clean. This was true,
at least the truth I wanted.
We ate sushi.
He asked for milk;
they didn’t have any. A week later he died
2 days after that, they found him.

I brought my Grandmother Mandarin oranges instead of flowers.
“He liked Clementines at Christmas," she said while peeling.
“We used to put them in their socks;
7 kids, sometimes we’d put socks in their socks
... these are sweeter.”
“Yes” I answered “these are sweeter”.


.

He had Mandarin oranges in his bag,

somebody had given him oranges
instead of change; three of them. They spilled
on the booth seat at the restaurant when he left
to use the washroom and I tucked them back
into his sack for him. A month before he had
drunk stolen Drano. They had to trach him.

Not a suicide attempt, he said

but an incarceration attempt.
The last time he was in jail,
he gained 30 pounds and came
out clean. This was true,
at least the truth I wanted.
We ate sushi, my uncle and I.
He asked for milk;
they didn’t have any.
A week later
he died, 2 days after that,

they found him.

I brought my Grandmother Mandarin oranges
instead of flowers. “He liked Clementines
at Christmas," she said while peeling.
“We used to put them in their socks;
7 kids, sometimes we’d put socks in their
socks ... these are sweeter.”
“Yes” I answered “these are sweeter”.

Very beautiful, Cate.

Beautiful and moving, Cate... and very well timed with your details.

great cate. mandarins are very much like clemantines and tangerines - just small oranges with different names, for some reason or other. i don't like anything that spits at me, though.

Thank you Anne, Lizzy and geoffrey. A friend helped with my line
breaks Lizzy - I think that may have helped the timing.

Some things that spit at you are better then others g., sweet oranges are well worth a little spray.

Cate,
I would like to read your poem to my mother ( a blind poet) today. We used to have a tradition of poetry parties on the winter solstice. We haven't done it for a few years, but your poem has inspired me to revive the tradition - maybe the day after the solstice is a better day: poetry and revelry to welcome the extra few seconds of sunlight!
In joy,
Anne

What a wonderful tradition Anne - thank you so much.

I read it yesterday, Cate, and she loved it. I knew she would.

wishing you the merriest and most poetic of Christmases! a selfish wish, in the hopes you will distill the magic into fine poetry and share it with us....