河鹿 (Singing Frog)

My mother taught me to smile when I was angry.

To be a contradictory person, and “set them off their guard!”

My mother said:

“待ってよ!”

(Matteyo!- Wait for me)

Whenever she left the house instead of:

“行ってきます”

(Ittekimasu- I’m going now)

            Feeling that it was less official.

I think she felt less than official about being my mother as well.

When the “uncle” next door

(who always wore a dirty cloth tied under his chin, like he was warding off toothaches)

 reported me to CPS as a neglect-case (mother 3+days gone, father- paternal mystery) I thought the police had come to arrest

me for some childish misdemeanor

Like leaving the television on while I

Dozed off.

It was a bad habit I had back then.

I knew my mother was coming home,

if somewhat circuitously,

            but I wouldn’t be there waiting.

I don’t tell anyone where I’m from.

What kind of confusion I had. (between the arrest and the failure to keep a promise)

My family (adoptive) doesn’t even think about it anymore themselves.

While I sit and listen for anonymous singing frogs, sometimes

I think about her,

            And I make no plans.