Friday, June 24, 2022

GRANDMA'S NIGHTGOWN

by Sally Zakariya




Handed down and down 
faded to palest purple
now tissue-soft cotton

A slit in the seam 
allows a quick glimpse
of that intimate intersection
of love and creation
hers to do with what she will
or so we thought for years 
until the high court snatched
that liberty away

Sleepy, she smooths
the thrice-owned nightgown
snuggles down under
the supposed safety 
of a heavy blanket 
dreams of owning 
her own self


Sally Zakariya’s poetry has appeared in 100 publications and been nominated for the Pushcart Prize. Her publications include Something Like a Life, Muslim Wife, The Unknowable Mystery of Other People, Personal Astronomy, and When You Escape. She edited and designed a poetry anthology, Joys of the Table, and blogs at www.butdoesitrhyme.com.