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Mathias Nelson

I ONLY DANCE FOR MY MOTHER

She gives me the wine
and I take the wine.

I mop her floors
and she walks on them
while they’re still wet
so I begin to dance
to warn her of how
easy one can slide.

She watches
grinning in her old green jacket
before going outside
to see the moon on the snow.

–from Rattle #35, Summer 2011