Amy Kitchener's Angels Without Wings Foundation Presents the 2008 New Mexico Senior Poet Laureate

Barbara DuBois

BARBARA DuBOIS, 81, Socorro, New Mexico, a retired college English teacher, loves dogs, gardening, poetry composition, her three children, four grandchildren and walking, swimming and traveling. She is published in newspapers, magazines and three chapbooks. She is a return SPL. Her sign is Libra.

THE OTHER HAND

Sparks light the garage as he guides
the hunting knife back to sharpness
I never watched Fred sharpen knives
though I often charged him with the chore.
I watch Charles chop an onion
I never watched Fred chop anything
He left the kitchen work to me.
I watch Charles shape the stock
of his muzzle-loading pistol
Fred had a rifle and a .22
but he kept them locked up.
I watch Charles write a check
I never took the time to watch Fred write
I watch Charles shave
afraid he'll hurt himself
Why do I watch Charles so?
because he's left-handed?
Because I love him.
I give Charles more time and attention
than I ever gave Fred.
I never feared losing Fred.
I store up images of Charles
in case he tires of me
and leaves me out of his life.

Barbara DuBois
Socorro, New Mexico