Mother’s Home Ritual for Quenching Fires

Unwind your garden hose Lady bird, lady bird

          lay it across the insatiable lawn

do not turn it on

Drink wine from a jar

          shake the dregs

                      into your palm

fly away home

Bathe in a tub without water

          walk into the kitchen with your eyes closed

                      stare at the horizon

your house is on fire

Borrow sugar from a neighbor

          let it melt in the driveway

                      give away your matches

all except one

Write the fire on your laundry list

          set it aflame

                      watch the name curl into ash

and that's Little Anne

Dine with firefighters

          wear a sundress with nothing underneath

                      say a prayer to St. Barbara

for she has crept under the warming pan

Steady your hand above a basin of water Lady bird, lady bird

          pretend to read your fortune there

pretend you are not thirsty.