HOPE FOR SUEE
by Sue Proffitt
Written in my mother’s shaky handwriting in a tiny notebook, undated.
SUE ENERGE
SUE ENEER
ADULT PREES
PLEE LEA
HOPE FOR SUEE
I see her bending
over the table
resting the notebook
on something hard
biro pressed
into little crab fingers
something hard
to write
remember
the effort it takes
to hold that thought
clear, finished
CAPITALISE IT
feel it fray
——– dissolve
disintegrate
try again
and again
something so hard
HOPE FOR SUEE
was this my name
me———– for a second?
from The Lock-Picker, Palewell Press (to be published February 2021)