"Water of Life" by Jodi Morton

Poetry

Photo by Curology on Unsplash

Water of Life

You’d follow me to the bathroom, 
like 3 baby ducklings, 
all squeals and fleshy rolls.
I’d toss in squishy letters 
and candy-colored finger paints.
You’d plop one at a time
in the lukewarm water, bubbles in the air,
in each other’s hair, best time of day
was let’s get ready for bed.

Now the tub is mine alone, the paints 
long spoiled, the bubbles bad for my vulva. 
Just Epsom salts for my weak ankles 
and lavender oil for my menopausal moods. 
One arthritic toe at a time I ease in, 
my baggy belly a life vest.

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Jodi Morton is a designer and poet based in Evanston, IL. Her poems have appeared in The Write Launch, Half and One, Cathexis Northwest Press, and Beyond Words Literary Magazine. Stay connected to Jodi on Instagtam @jodimortondesign.