optimism

i don't know exactly why

my

mother put a layer of pond's

cold cream

on her face

every night.

brushing and brushing

her curly black

hair,

but she did.

even with seven kids

in the house,

an absent husband

of unknown whereabouts,

cats and dogs,

in every bed,

the bills stacked up,

she was optimistic

about her chances

in the outside world,

as to what might

lie ahead.