Adrienne Rich — Mother-in-Law

Tell me something you say Not: What are you working on now, is there anyone special, how is the job do you mind coming back to an empty house what do you do on Sundays Tell me something . . . Some secret we both know and have never spoken? Some sentence that could flood with light your life, mine? Tell me what daughters tell their mothers everywhere in the world, and I and only I even have to ask. . .. Lately, I hear it: Tell me something true, daughter-in-law, before we part, tell me something true before I die And time was when I tried. You married my son, and so strange as you are, you're my daughter Tell me. . . .. I've been trying to tell you, mother-in-law that I think I'm breaking in two and half of me doesn't even want to love I can polish this table to satin because I don't care I am trying to tell you, I envy the people in mental hospitals their freedom and I can't live on placebos or Valium, like you A cut lemon scours the smell of fish away You'll feel better when the children are in school I would try to tell you, mother-in-law but my anger takes fire from yours and in the oven the meal bursts into flames Daughter-in-law, before we part tell me something true I polished the table, mother-in-law and scrubbed the knives with half a lemon the way you showed me to do I wish I could tell you” Tell me! They think I'm weak and hold things back from me. I agreed to this years ago. Daughter-in-law, strange as you are, tell me something true tell me something Your son is dead ten years, I am a lesbian, my children are themselves. Mother-in-law, before we part shall we try again? Strange as I am, strange as you are? What do mothers ask their own daughters, everywhere in the world? Is there a question? Ask me something.