Things You Don’t Know

Mary Lee-Slade

You didn’t know I was looking the night

I saw you naked in the baby bath.

My lungs were full of Scottish sea air and

unable to sleep, I snuck out of bed

and tiptoed to the camper’s stable door.

My stubby fingers clutched the fiberglass

as I took in your sideways-zed-shaped form.

Your hair-covered knees grazed your grizzly beard

and your cracked, tobacco-stained fingers fought

to contain them in the pink plastic mould.

Mum’s cheerful chuckles had tempted me out

from my sleeping bag to investigate.

And there in the torch-lit canvas awning,

hovering over you with a suddy sponge,

her laughter lines carved out her happiness.

You’ll never know how much that moment meant

or how she’ll never smile like that again.