the gift basket

when the church
left a basket
on the porch my mother cried.

a ham, a turkey.
potatoes.
everything. bread.
milk.
eggs.

chocolate.

she stood on the porch
and cried,
her hands upon her tired
face.

quickly she brought it
all inside.

embarrassed at being poor
and without a
husband,

but happy
for her children. hungry
no more.