A Poem I Have Written #3

Waiting

Fourteen family members

Aged from 1 to 88

Sweating

In the sweltering Michigan weather

Nibbling

Greasy leftover fried chicken

For breakfast,

All other food gone

Waiting

For a short trip to the Detroit airport

Or a long drive down to Ohio

More family visits

Snapping

Pictures of the baby

Memories to keep in their pockets

Watching

Cheesy children’s movies

Crammed together on an ancient leather couch

Saturated with the sweat

Of countless unkempt children

Chattering away

Aimlessly

Voices merging with the noise of a solitary fan

The baby

Rolling around with the small, floppy-haired dog

Wandering

And waiting