as the world turns

when my

grandmother sat down 

with her cigarettes

and coffee

in front

of the tv

to watch As the World Turns,

there had to

be utter silence.

she put the dog in the yard,

and put her

finger to her lips.

demanding our complete

cooperation

in being quiet.

then she turned up 

the sound,

put her feet into a bucket

of warm water

and Epsom salts,

and got into it.