
Russians in the Nursing Home
by Mary MacGowan
i.
Basya scolds me in Russian,
Nina, Nina!
her pants down at her ankles.
Sara poured her cup of orange juice
into the newly-opened carton
and the other Sarah with an h
crumbled a cookie. Into her lap.
Maria, as usual every 5 minutes
said, Please! Drink Cold Water!
rolling her Russian r’s.
I told her,
You Had Drink
Cold Water. It was Very Good.
You Drank It All.
I asked Maria what Basya
was chiggering in Russian.
Other Self,
Maria answered.
ii.
We didn’t know.
None of us did.
I played my soprano recorder
at Deaf Anna’s side.
She leaned toward
the shrill sound and looked
at us full smile,
as amazed as we were.
She could hear it.
Deaf Anna said
I love you!
in that way
the deaf speak.
I leaned down
to her cozy-blanketed wheelchair
and kissed her hot cheek.
Her lips kept moving
repeating,
I love you, I love you
as I played You Are My
Sunshine high high high.
Then she pointed at her bottom
and said, Bowel movement,
Bowel movement!
We’re told
she doesn’t have to go,
we’ve been instructed
to tell her
No, you’re fine.
Fuck you,
she mouths and moans
Fuck you!
she says to anyone’s back
as they rush out the door.
iii.
I’m sitting at a table
next to old Phil
feeling beleaguered,
angry at my ex boyfriend.
Old Phil, with his
ruddy complexion,
keeps his eyes closed now.
He holds
a pink-stockinged doll
like an ice pack
to his cheek
aflame with unrequited love.
About the Author
Mary has had over 50 poems placed in literary journals, and her chapbook, Spider Lake, was just published by Kattywompus Press.