Strangers Stopping My Train of Thought, Which is On Its Way to My Mother
by Sarah Kersey
After “Bandwidth” by Destiny O. Birdsong
Miss, do you
Miss—your mother. I’m so sorry you
miss the point of what I said. I never
Miss, I would never
Miss, did he
Miss, did you by any chance hear
Miss, that color on you looks so
Miss, go ahead of me in line you can
Miss, your shoe is untied. Don’t
miss the rush. Get home at a reasonable time. I
miss my mother calling me to find out where I am I
miss—are you alright?
Miss, I’m sorry to interrupt it’s just that
Miss, are you a Kersey?
Ms. Kersey, is Bill your father?
Ms. Kersey, is Jack your father? We were on the same baseball
Ms. Kersey, who is your father? I’m sorry
Ms. Kersey, I don’t think I’ve ever met Bob. Do you
miss him? I don’t know. I love him in a principled way, it’s just
Ms. Kersey, what is your first name?
Sarah, as in
Sarah, I can always tell where you eat because
Sarah, I won’t always be here so I need you to
Sarah, you’re a pea—
Sarah, what would I do withou—
Sarah, if my mother met you, she’d say
Sarah, you’s a mess.
Sarah, it’s you and
me. Sarah.
Sarah, you’re the last of my procreative powers
Sarah, you’re my baby.
Sarah, what would I do without you?
Sarah Kersey is a poet and x-ray technologist from New Jersey. She is an Assistant Features Editor for The Rumpus. Her work has appeared, or is forthcoming, in The Rumpus, Mumber Magazine, The Hellebore, Columbia Journal (online), and elsewhere. She tweets @sk__poet.