in the mirror
seeing my mother’s face—
satisfied
*
she was my hero:
wise, down-to-earth, tender
yet tough as old boots
—The Good Soldier Svejk by Jaroslav Hasek. This Czech classic was my mother’s favorite book. I longed to know my mother but she wouldn’t talk much about her life. She wanted me to read the book in the hope I might understand her better. Later, near the end, I asked my mother how she felt about her life....”Well, Mimmy, I’m pretty well satisfied.” I hope I will feel the same.
