Joy (Smith) - LC English

Title meaning

Joy - sets the tone for a poem of love and connection

The mother’s illness and her dependance on her children is likened to a childhood memory - shows the daughters do not see care of their mother as a burden

The body is memory. You are nine years old, playing hospital with your sisters.

Mother used the game to indulge in her favourite snack - sense of playfulness and life

These will be my medicine, you tell them, taking a handful of the raisins that you love

The children make a dark hospital room - dark note contrasts with the playful memories of childhood

They’ve made the room dark and covered you with a quilt

Despite the appetite, her mothers body is cautious and only tolerates the bare necessities

You savour the kale, trusting this one need. But the body is cautious, Does not want more than it wants.

• Harsh T sound - traffic, transparent tubes

• Although this intervention is necessary it is unwanted and unwelcome

There will be traffic of transparent tubes, striking their compromise with the body

When you close your eyes, I know that you are listening

What do you believe in?