one bathroom

we had one bathroom

at the top of the stairs

of the brick duplex.

there was always a knock,

at the door.

a line of begging

voices with shoes doing

a jig.

one hardly
had time to take a bath
or finish a
comic book in there.

don't use up all the hot water
was a common
lament.
eight toothbrushes
were lined in a row
along the porcelain sink.
the bar of soap
whittled down to
a communion wafer.
but somehow we managed
to stay clean,
to stay brushed and combed
and presentable
to the outside world.