She tied red ribbons in my tightly braided hair

Silk ribbons cut from grandma's Sunday dress

'Be neat and clean!'� she said,

'So you don't turn out like me.'�





She dressed my skinny sunburned legs in long white socks

To cover all the scabs and scratches, signs of a happy summer.

'Be calm, polite, pretty'� she instructed,'

"So you don't end up like me.'�





We walked into the school yard, hand in hand

Me in my brand new, steam pressed uniform

Carrying four pounds of neatly packaged wisdom on my back

And her: blue dress; blue apron; dark blue shoes

And eyes dark blue and beaming fierce pride.

"The school has never looked so bright!'� she said.





The school yard still deserted in the early hour

Was clean and decorated to receive

The hoards of eager and disgruntled minds

Returning to or setting out on

The journey of obedience and knowledge

'It's all for you'� she said,

'For you to learn and grow. Grow out of this small town!'�





I sat still on the wooden bench for hours

Stained and polished smooth by those who sat upon it years before me

Inhaled the smells of chalk and bleach and pollen

From the flower decorations on the wall

I sat and watched her scrub the wooden floors

With ease that only comes through years of practice

She scrubbed and looked at me

'You see'� she said

'Today you set out on a path to take you far from this.'�

'From what I am, what I became'�.





I sat in silent wonder studying her moves

I watched her callused hands wield the bleach-soaked rag

The same rough hands that gently brush my hair

That carefully place plaster on scraped knees

That hold me tight through night-scares and through pain

That tickle me pink and paint my nails red

That set food to my table every day

I looked at her and had one thing to say

'Mama, I want to be just like you.'�

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