Mother by caro

when you were me
you left home
with a student visa
and no intention
to go to school
navigated a country
with no language
survived lonely nights
without your mother
asleep in the next room

but the hardest thing
you have done
was live without your name
when that visa expired
trade your identity
for a chance
the only choice
you had

to think
you don't even
look like a Barbara



caro is a musician, writer, and freelance audio tech living in New York. Her poetry has been published or is forthcoming in Chronogram and right hand pointing. She can be found around the internet @caroblahblah and thisiscaro.com.