tea time

she wants to know
where i've been,
what have i been doing
and with whom.
who put that lipstick
there, whose curling
iron is on the
bathroom floor, why
is there so much
yogurt and bottled
water and cheese in
your refrigerator.
hummus? when did you
start eating hummus.
what's up with the white
wine bottles in the
trash. that one high
heel, who left it here
and where's the other.
who walks away and
leaves wearing one high
heel. what kind of a
woman does that, she
says, shaking her head.
she's driving me
crazy with these
questions, my mother. i
can't invite her over
for tea anymore.