Won’t Wake Up

She won’t wake up

If she can help it

And she can.

Her children eat rice krispies

In the kitchen, radio on, turquoise Formica

Windows open on carport.

The Orioles are playing the Yankees,

 She doesn’t care.

The Viet Cong are attacking Saigon,

She doesn’t know.

Castro smokes a cigar.

John Lennon smokes a joint.

She gets up

Locks herself in the bathroom

Lights a cigarette, then another.

They have to go to school.

They need to go to school.

She needs them to go to school

Father knows best.

If only they knew.