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| Destitute Dead Mother holding her sleeping Child in Winter, 1850 (Oil on Canvas), by Octave Tassaert |
In a housecoat she slept
till breath came no more
with no one beside her
lest roaches and mice
lest roaches and mice
her beauty obscured
by toilets she cleaned
her wisdom unheard
by those whom she served
my mother, your drudge—
Long live the Queen.
Debbie Peters lives in New York City and dedicates all her writing to her beloved Gerson Lesser. She encourages the world to open its eyes to the millions of queens who quietly die every day, everywhere.