For Mother

I came home early
to do the dishes.

The soap
dried out my skin--

I felt I had aged thirty years
and became as wrinkled as you.

I remembered your feet--
I used to touch the calluses

and ask you why
they were so hard.

I was glad
you were asleep

resting
your bent back.

The water flowed
over the plates.

My hands wiped them dry
and stored them away

carefully, inside
the cupboard.