mother

most days she is insufferable.

absolutely maddening.

her logic is flawed

and she insists on making sure

that i live like a social recluse and

she won’t let me stay up late and she

won’t let me sleep in but

no one loves like her.

no one gives like her.

no one braids my hair quite like she does.

eyelids heavy with sleep and body heavy with fatigue

but she will

rub oil into my scalp and make my favourite dessert

and giddily play hostess when my friends visit and

listen to the music i like and try to laugh

at the ridiculous memes i find.

it is sure

that she can be a tyrant and

it is sure

that she is

quite

insufferable.

but there is no one else like her.