there is nothing you won't do

fury
          for mama


by Lucille Clifton

remember this. 
she is standing by 
the furnace. 
the coals 
glisten like rubies. 
her hand is crying. 
her hand is clutching 
a sheaf of papers. 
poems. 
she gives them up. 
they burn 
jewels into jewels. 
her eyes are animals. 
each hank of her hair 
is a serpent's obedient 
wife. 
she will never recover. 
remember. there is nothing 
you will not bear 
for this woman's sake.