Self-seeker

Dogged dog-furred raggedy mother
of two seeking self who spring-cleans
despite limited means, a self with
sudden wealth and no hair in the
drain, a self who can listen to the
train at night and not take flight.
Self, come soon.

Tired and mired.
Searching for bravado, lost mementos,
better shoes, flattering clothes. Will accept
past life with some strife if happiness
quotient is higher. New self must
appreciate rings of fire and high-wire
acts. Facts only, please; no fiction
or overpriced diction.

Fair skin unmarred,
one-a-day vitamins, chocolate-mint
temperament selves especially
encouraged to apply. Must get high
on party invites, darning children’s
socks and tights, replacing old locks,
setting curls and clocks.

Little girls—
not for the faint of heart. Self should
be fluent in Mary Poppins, Maria Von
Trapp at the Kwik-Mart. Yes, it’s an art,
but surely you are out there.

Self, hurry, please. Time cries
when it’s not having fun and there is
simply too much dust, too much sun,
too much rust, too little money, too
little much and too much little.

Self, come soon. Have prepared a room;
can offer board, bored. You provide
the pinafore and button-top boots,
and the smile. This smile has too many
miles on it, will not pass inspection or
muster. Don’t be flustered. Come as
you are so I may leave as I am not.

They tell me you are the self for the job, you
out there with your feet on the glass
coffee table, leaving no trace, no smudged
heelprint behind. You go unseen. Not even
an empty potato chip bag, a cheap ragazine.
Ready, willing and able. Sleeves rolled, secrets
untold. Self, come soon, come soon.

Stipend, salary, commission, celery, frillery,
frippery. Slippery floors and splintered doors.
Come soon. The cool moon is waiting for me.
A red herring. A smoking loon. You’ll get your
bearings, you will. The note, the key—
the kitchen counter. You will see my face
in the dirty dishes but it will mean nothing,
no need to flinch. Blink, and I will wink
back, from the bowl of a spoon. We will
leave it at that. Self, come soon.