unplug the microwave

the coffee stained the bottom
of the microwave. doesn’t cook
anything all the way through.
burned some noodles in the old
one. smoked up the house real
good. guess you shouldn’t forget
the water. i know how to boil
water good now. takes two
minutes. makes the water hot.
burned my hand once. momma
never burns her hands. boils her
water on the stove. doesn’t care
too much for new things. says she
ain’t done showing me all the ways
to be like her. accept she doesn’t
say anything. just stands with a pot.
over the stove. a slow ticking flame
staggering between us. i guess the
microwave is only for bringing dead
things back. momma boils water like
it has a life to live after. like she knows
i’m watching.