April

they sat on my mom's windowsill in the kitchen

three distinct egg white planter pots
with their medicinal herbs and spices growing in them

the sunglight hit them and their leaves were oh, so green

mom watered them every day
and talked to them even
she said they liked that
and they were like children
they needed praise

and the plants responded by growing

the first plantar had little green leaves
peeking over the edge
they looked like large overgrown four leaf clovers
but mom said they were basil and majoram and parsley
good for those winter soups and stews

the second plantar had four to five inch
spider like stalks growing out of the warm brown earth
and they were sage, thyme and bay leaves
good for pasta, fish and chicken

mama thought of everything

the third pot had full green leaves growing out that
rached to about ten inches tall

mom said that was the best plantar of all
and she spent some extra time on them
making sure her little children got the best sunlight

she said this was her plant
for those nights when you needed to have some
fun and wanted to laugh at nothing at all
or if you had a headache and just wanted some relief

she called it her best pot
and her friend mimi used to come over
and once a month
my mom would cut those leaves in the third pot
and used the little beads that spilled out
to roll her favorite cigarette
she said it was for medicinal purposes

and mimi and her would wink at one another
and roll over laughting
sitting at that kitchen table

i remember mama and her three pots

but most of all i remember that third pot
and the sweet smelling air that would fill
the kitchen on a cold wintry night.